Is Crowne Plaza permitted to reverse engineer the Next-Gen Payments Solution?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, Hotel shall not, and shall not permit any third party to: (a) transmit the Next-Gen Payments Solution to any third party or third party network, or permit any third party to access or use the Next-Gen Payments Solution; (b) use the Next-Gen Payments Solution, or any data derived from the Next-Gen Payments Solution, in a service bureau, time-sharing, multiple CPU, or multiple user arrangement; (c) copy, reproduce, store, sell, assign, pledge, sublicense, convey, transfer, redistribute, transmit, grant other rights in, or permit any unauthorized use of the Next-Gen Payments Solution; (d) prepare derivative works or incorporate the Next-Gen Payments Solution, in whole or part, into any other system or work; (e) reverse engineer, disassemble, decompile, decode, adapt or otherwise attempt to derive or gain access to the source code of the Next-Gen Payments Solution, in whole or in part; (f) bypass or breach any security device or protection used by the Next-Gen Payments Solution or access or use the Next-Gen Payments Solution other than by an authorized user through the use of his or her own then valid access credentials; (g) input, upload, transmit, or otherwise provide to or through the Next-Gen Payments Solution, any information or materials that are unlawful or injurious, or contain, transmit, or activate any harmful code; (h) remove, delete, alter, or obscure any warranties or disclaimers, or any Intellectual Property Rights notices from the Next-Gen Payments Solution, including any copy thereof; (i) access or use the Next-Gen Payments Solution in any manner or for any purpose that infringes, misappropriates, or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights or other rights of any third party, or that violates any applicable Law; or (j) otherwise access or use the Next-Gen Payments Solution beyond the scope of the authorization granted under this Agreement, including the Third Party Terms.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, the hotel is explicitly restricted from reverse engineering the Next-Gen Payments Solution. The agreement states that the hotel "shall not, and shall not permit any third party to: (e) reverse engineer, disassemble, decompile, decode, adapt or otherwise attempt to derive or gain access to the source code of the Next-Gen Payments Solution, in whole or in part".
This restriction is a standard protective measure for intellectual property. By prohibiting reverse engineering, Crowne Plaza aims to protect its proprietary technology and maintain control over its payment processing system. This prevents franchisees or third parties from potentially copying, modifying, or creating derivative works based on the Next-Gen Payments Solution.
For a prospective Crowne Plaza franchisee, this means they must rely solely on the provided Next-Gen Payments Solution without attempting to independently analyze or alter its underlying code. Any attempt to reverse engineer the solution would be a breach of the franchise agreement and could lead to penalties or termination of the agreement. Franchisees are expected to use the system as provided and report any issues to IHG, as outlined in the agreement.