Who owns the copyrights related to the Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential brand?
Sonesta_Select_Sonesta_Essential Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
to use in this Agreement. We and our affiliates may exercise these rights at any time and for any reason, business or otherwise, that we and our affiliates think best. You acknowledge both our right to take this action and your obligation to comply with our directions.
- D. Copyrighted and Copyrightable Materials. During the Term, we will authorize you to use certain copyrighted and copyrightable materials in connection with the operation of your Hotel, including the Brand Manual, trade dress and other materials (collectively, the "Copyrighted Materials"). As between you and us, we or our affiliates own the Copyrighted Materials and all benefits inherent in such ownership. We and our affiliates may further create, acquire, or obtain licenses for certain copyrights in various works of authorship used in connection with the operation of your Hotel, including all categories of works eligible for protection under the copyright laws of the United States, all of which will be deemed to be Copyrighted Materials under this Agreement. We intend that all works of authorship related to Brand Hotels and created in the future will be owned by us or our affiliates.
- E. Limitation on Your Use of Copyrighted Materials. Your right to use the Copyrighted Materials is derived only from this Agreement and limited to your operating your Hotel according to this Agreement and all Brand Standards we prescribe during its term. You will ensure that all Copyrighted Materials used hereunder bear an appropriate copyright notice under the Universal Copyright Convention or other copyright laws we prescribe specifying that we or, as appropriate, our affiliate is the owner of the copyright.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 84)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor or its affiliates own the copyrights and all benefits inherent in such ownership to the copyrighted materials used in the operation of the hotel. These copyrighted materials include the Brand Manual, trade dress, and other materials. Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential and its affiliates may create, acquire, or obtain licenses for certain copyrights in various works of authorship used in connection with the operation of the franchisee's hotel, including all categories of works eligible for protection under the copyright laws of the United States, all of which will be deemed to be Copyrighted Materials under the Franchise Agreement.
Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential intends that all works of authorship related to Brand Hotels and created in the future will be owned by them or their affiliates. The franchisee's right to use the Copyrighted Materials is derived only from the Franchise Agreement and limited to operating the Hotel according to the agreement and all Brand Standards prescribed during its term.
The franchisee must ensure that all Copyrighted Materials used bear an appropriate copyright notice specifying that Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential or its affiliate is the owner of the copyright. The agreement does not confer upon the franchisee any interest in the Copyrighted Materials, other than the right to use them in the operation of their Hotel in compliance with the Franchise Agreement. This means a franchisee cannot claim ownership or intellectual property rights over the Brand Manual, marketing materials, or other items provided by Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential for use in operating the franchise.