Can Christies International Real Estate create a website using the Marks?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (f) To advertise the System anywhere, including, without limitation, on the Internet (or any other existing or future form of electronic commerce) and to create, operate, maintain, and modify, or discontinue the use of a website or any online presence using the Marks;
Source: Item 12 — TERRITORY (FDD pages 33–38)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate Franchise Disclosure Document, Christies International Real Estate reserves the right to create and operate a website using the Marks. This means that as a franchisee, you may have to compete with a website created by the franchisor.
Christies International Real Estate retains specific rights regarding the use of its Marks, including the ability to advertise the System on the Internet and to create, operate, maintain, modify, or discontinue a website using the Marks. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors need to maintain control over their brand's image and online presence.
This reservation of rights allows Christies International Real Estate to engage in activities associated with the Marks that are not expressly prohibited in the License Agreement. For a prospective franchisee, this means that Christies International Real Estate has broad discretion to utilize the Marks in various ways, including online, which could potentially impact a franchisee's own marketing efforts and lead generation. Franchisees should discuss with Christies International Real Estate how they can differentiate themselves in the online space.