Who owns the copyrights for the proprietary information related to Even Hotels?
Even_Hotels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Licensee acknowledges and agrees: (a) not to contest, either directly or indirectly, IHG's and its Affiliates' unrestricted and exclusive ownership of and right to use the Brand System and any element(s) or component(s) thereof; (b) that IHG or any of its Affiliates has the sole and exclusive right to grant licenses to use all or any element(s) or component(s) of the Brand System; and (c) that it will not take any action in derogation of such ownership and rights of IHG and any of its Affiliates. Licensee specifically agrees and acknowledges that IHG owns or is licensed to use the name and mark "EVEN® Hotels" and all other Marks, as defined in paragraph 6.B. below, and other elements associated with the Brand System or derived therefrom (including but not limited to domain names or other identifications or elements used in electronic commerce), together with the goodwill symbolized thereby, and that Licensee will not contest, directly or indirectly, the validity or ownership of the Marks or take any other action in derogation of such validity or ownership either during the term of this License or after its termination. All improvements, modifications and additions whenever made to or associated with the Brand System by the parties hereto or anyone else, and all service marks, trademarks, copyrights, and service mark, trademark, domain name or similar registrations at any time used, applied for or granted in connection with the Brand System, and all goodwill arising from Licensee's use of IHG's Marks and other intellectual property, including (without limitation) local goodwill, shall inure to the benefit of and become the property of IHG. Upon expiration or termination of this License, no monetary amount shall be assigned as attributable to any goodwill associated with Licensee's use of the Brand System or any element(s) or component(s) of the Brand System including any trademarks or service marks licensed hereunder.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD page 85)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Even Hotels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) owns the copyrights and other intellectual property rights related to the Even Hotels brand system. Specifically, IHG owns the name and mark "EVEN® Hotels" and all other associated marks, copyrights, and elements associated with the Brand System. This encompasses domain names and other identifications used in electronic commerce.
As a prospective Even Hotels franchisee, it is important to understand that you are licensing the right to use the Brand System, but you do not own any part of it. Any improvements, modifications, or additions made to the Brand System, even those arising from a franchisee's use, automatically become the property of IHG. This includes any goodwill generated through the franchisee's operation of the Even Hotels location.
Upon termination of the License Agreement, the franchisee cannot claim any monetary value for the goodwill associated with their use of the Even Hotels brand or any of its components. This underscores that the franchisee is building equity in IHG's brand, not their own. Franchisees must adhere to IHG's brand standards and requirements in all uses of the Marks, including in print, electronic media, and domain names.