What is the Christies International Real Estate Affiliate's role in disclosing Confidential Information?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ame on your Main Office and any Additional Offices. Your sign(s) must conform to the Brand Guidelines. The sign(s) utilizing our Marks must be installed within ninety (90) days from the Effective Date of this Agreement. You must obtain our prior written permission for any exception to the office sign requirements due to local ordinances or other reasons and you must provide written documentation reflecting the reasons for varying the signage.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
- 8.1. Definition. "Confidential Information" means the methods, techniques, information, data, formats, marketing and promotional techniques and procedures, specifications, information, systems, software, and knowledge of and experience in operating and franchising CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE businesses that we communicate to you or that you otherwise acquire in operating the Business under the System including, but not limited to, the Operations Manual and Brand Guidelines and the terms of this Agreement. Confidential Information does not include information, processes or techniques that are generally known to the public, other than through disclosure (whether deliberate or inadvertent) by you.
- **8.2.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Christies International Real Estate's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the affiliate is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of proprietary information. "Confidential Information" encompasses methods, techniques, data, marketing strategies, specifications, systems, software, and knowledge related to operating Christies International Real Estate businesses. This information is communicated to the affiliate or acquired through operating the business under the Christies International Real Estate system, including the Operations Manual, Brand Guidelines, and the terms of the Broker Affiliate License Agreement.
The affiliate acknowledges that they do not acquire any ownership interest in the Confidential Information beyond the right to use it for their Christies International Real Estate business. Using or duplicating this information in any other business is considered unfair competition. The affiliate must protect this information and ensure it is not disclosed to unauthorized parties.
Despite these restrictions, the affiliate may retain Confidential Information for legal, tax, and insurance purposes. However, even when retained for these reasons, the information remains subject to the confidentiality restrictions outlined in the Broker Affiliate License Agreement. This ensures that even necessary retention of confidential data does not compromise its protected status.