Does the Springhill Suites By Marriott franchisee own the rights to any training materials made available to them?

According to Springhill Suites By Marriott's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees do not own the rights to any training materials or systems made available to them. Springhill Suites By Marriott and its affiliates retain all rights and interests, including copyright and patent rights, to the information contained in their standards, training materials, and other systems.

While franchisees do not own these materials, they are permitted to use the proprietary information within the standards for the sole purpose of operating their SpringHill Suites By Marriott hotel under the franchise agreement. This means franchisees have a license to use the materials but cannot reproduce, distribute, or claim ownership of them. All information regarding hotel customers is proprietary to Springhill Suites By Marriott, regardless of the source.

This arrangement is typical in franchising, where the franchisor maintains control over its brand standards and operating procedures. It ensures consistency across all franchise locations and protects the franchisor's intellectual property. Prospective franchisees should understand that they are essentially leasing the right to use these materials and systems and must adhere to the franchisor's guidelines.