What is a Cinnabon franchisee required to do if Cinnabon changes the Intellectual Property?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 9.4 Changes to the Intellectual Property.
We have the right, upon reasonable notice, to change, discontinue, or substitute for any of the Intellectual Property and to adopt entirely different or new Intellectual Property for use with the System without any liability to you, in our sole discretion.
You agree to implement any such change at your own expense within the time we reasonably specify.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 114–399)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cinnabon FDD, Cinnabon has the right to change, discontinue, or substitute any of its Intellectual Property for use within the Cinnabon system. This can be done without liability to the franchisee, at Cinnabon's sole discretion. Intellectual Property includes items such as trademarks, copyrights, recipes, trade secrets, methods, and procedures.
If Cinnabon makes such changes to its Intellectual Property, the franchisee is required to implement these changes at their own expense. Cinnabon will provide reasonable notice to the franchisee regarding these changes, as well as a reasonable timeframe for the franchisee to implement them.
This means that a Cinnabon franchisee must be prepared to invest additional capital to update signage, menus, equipment, or other elements of their business to comply with Cinnabon's updated Intellectual Property. Failure to do so within the specified timeframe could result in a breach of the franchise agreement.