What items does Surestay Hotel By Best Western claim copyrights in?
Surestay_Hotel_By_Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
This Disclosure Document offers a franchise for the construction of, or conversion of an existing hotel to, a System Hotel. If you are granted a franchise for a System Hotel, we will license you a hotel system ("System") consisting of the elements, including know-how, that we periodically designate to identify System Hotels. The System is designed to provide distinctive, high-quality lodging service at System Hotels. The System currently includes the Brand and all other service marks, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, logos, insignia, emblems, symbols and designs, slogans, distinguishing characteristics and trade names (the "Marks"); all standards, specifications, requirements, criteria, and policies for use by franchisees in developing and operating System Hotels (the "Standards"); access to a reservation service; advertising, publicity and other marketing programs and materials; training programs and materials; and programs for inspecting your System Hotel and consulting with you. We may add elements to the System or modify, alter or delete elements of the System.
Source: Item 14 — Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information (FDD page 63)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Surestay Hotel By Best Western franchises a hotel system that includes various elements. The franchise licenses franchisees to use this system for either constructing a new hotel or converting an existing one into a System Hotel.
The System includes the Brand and all other service marks, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, logos, insignia, emblems, symbols and designs, slogans, distinguishing characteristics and trade names (the "Marks"); all standards, specifications, requirements, criteria, and policies for use by franchisees in developing and operating System Hotels (the "Standards"); access to a reservation service; advertising, publicity and other marketing programs and materials; training programs and materials; and programs for inspecting your System Hotel and consulting with you.
Surestay Hotel By Best Western retains the right to modify the System by adding, altering, or deleting elements. This means that while franchisees are granted the right to use the copyrighted materials and other elements of the System, Surestay Hotel By Best Western maintains control over these elements and can make changes as they deem necessary. Franchisees must stay up-to-date with any changes to standards, specifications, and other copyrighted materials.