What is the 'Business' referring to in the context of a Christies International Real Estate franchise?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
o grant you the right to develop and operate a licensed CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE business subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including all exhibits and related documents) and our Operations Manual.
AGREEMENTS
NOW, THEREFORE, for value received, you and we ("the Parties") agree as follows:
1. GRANT
- 1.1. Grant. Subject to the provisions contained in this Agreement, including all exhibits and related documents, and Operations Manual, we grant you a non-exclusive license to own and operate a CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE business (the "Business"). The physical address of your Business ("Main Office") must be located within the Protected Territory and approved by us in writing before you can begin to operate your Business. Your Main Office and the Protected Territory are identified in Exhibit 1 to this Agreement. You may not relocate your Main Office without our prior written consent, as described in Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
- 1.2 Nature of the Protected Territory. Except as described below, and except as modified by Exhibit 1 (if applicable), neither we nor our affiliates will establish and operate, or grant licenses or franchises to others to establish and operate a CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE business within the Protected Territory during the term of this Agreement, so long as you are in compliance with this Agreement. The license granted to you under this Agreement is personal in nature and shall only be used from the Main Office and any Additional Office authorized by us. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, and subject to the terms of this Agreement, you shall have the right to offer and sell real estate brokerage services identified by the Marks through any other channels of distribution, including the Internet but excluding the metaverse. We reserve, maintain, and control all rights with respect to said metaverse. As used herein, "metaverse" means any 3D virtual space powered by technologies – including virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain – that allows people to interact with each other and to have lifelike experiences online. The rights granted under this Agreement are subject to the limitations set forth in the Operations Manual or as we otherwise periodically prescribe, which may include certain territorial policies that we establish or modify from time to time.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate Franchise Disclosure Document, the 'Business' refers to the CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE business that the franchisee owns and operates under the License Agreement. The franchisee's physical address, or 'Main Office,' must be within the Protected Territory and approved by Christies International Real Estate in writing before operations can begin. The Main Office and Protected Territory are specified in Exhibit 1 of the agreement.
Christies International Real Estate grants franchisees a non-exclusive license to operate their real estate business. Franchisees are obligated to develop the Christies International Real Estate business based on their own assessment of the site's suitability. Franchisees must receive written approval before commencing business operations and must complete development and begin operations within 120 days of the agreement's effective date.
Within 90 days of the agreement's effective date, franchisees are required to install all outdoor and indoor signs displaying their business name using the Marks. Franchisees must operate under the trade name 'CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE' with a unique suffix or prefix approved by Christies International Real Estate. The trade name must be displayed according to the Operations Manual and Brand Guidelines, and any changes to the trade name require prior written consent from Christies International Real Estate.