Regarding copyright infringements, challenges, or claims, are Sonesta Simply Suites franchisees allowed to communicate with other people about them?
Sonesta_Simply_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must immediately notify us of any apparent infringement of or challenge to your use of any copyrighted materials. We may take any action we think appropriate (including no action), and at our option we may control any litigation or administrative proceeding.
You may not communicate with any other person regarding any such infringement, challenges, or claims and only we and our affiliates will have the right to handle disputes concerning the copyrighted materials. We and our affiliates will take the action we and they consider appropriate with respect to such challenges and claims. You must extend your full cooperation to us and our affiliates in these matters. You must sign any documents we believe are necessary to obtain protection for the copyrighted materials and assign to us any claims you may have related to these matters. Our decision as to the prosecution, defense and settlement of the dispute will be final. All recoveries made as a result of disputes with third parties regarding the copyrighted marks will be for our account. We are not obligated to indemnify you for damages related to use of our copyrighted materials, but we will reimburse you for your costs of taking any action that we or our affiliates have asked you to take in any litigation or proceeding.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Sonesta Simply Suites' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are not allowed to communicate with other people regarding copyright infringements, challenges, or claims. The FDD states that only Sonesta Simply Suites and its affiliates have the right to handle disputes concerning copyrighted materials.
Sonesta Simply Suites requires franchisees to immediately notify them of any apparent infringement or challenge to the use of copyrighted materials. Sonesta Simply Suites has the option to take any action they deem appropriate, including no action, and may control any litigation or administrative proceeding.
The franchisee is obligated to fully cooperate with Sonesta Simply Suites and its affiliates in these matters and must sign any documents deemed necessary to protect the copyrighted materials. Additionally, franchisees must assign to Sonesta Simply Suites any related claims. Sonesta Simply Suites' decision regarding the prosecution, defense, and settlement of any dispute is final, and any recoveries made from disputes with third parties regarding the copyrighted marks will be for Sonesta Simply Suites' account. Sonesta Simply Suites is not obligated to indemnify franchisees for damages related to the use of their copyrighted materials but will reimburse costs for actions they or their affiliates have asked the franchisee to take in any litigation or proceeding.