Must a Christies International Real Estate franchisee comply with the Trademark License Agreement?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You agree to the following additional obligations, pursuant to our obligations under the Trademark License Agreement:
(a) You shall not represent that you own any of the Marks.
(b) You shall not use any Marks that consist of or incorporate "CHRISTIE'S" in any manner other than in the phrase "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE."
(c) You shall not use the font of the "CHRISTIE'S" Marks for any words other than "CHRISTIE'S."
(d) You must use the Marks in combination with the marks set forth in Section 7 of Exhibit 1 of this Agreement, which may be modified from time to time in writing, with our prior written consent.
(e) You shall market, hold out and otherwise position the Marks as a leading luxury brand.
You shall not market, hold out or otherwise position any other trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain names, logos or other commercial symbols as being associated with more luxurious real estate brokerage services or more luxurious real estate properties than those offered, marketed or sold under the Marks.
- (f) You agree that you are neither directly nor indirectly controlled by Sotheby's Inc., Phillips Auctioneers Limited, Beijing Poly International Auction Co.
Ltd., China Guardian Auctions Co.
Ltd., or their successors (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Realogy Holdings Corp. and its affiliates, for so long as it is licensed to use the Sotheby's Marks), or any other competitor that we may designate from time to time.
- (g) Your rights under this Agreement are contingent on you marketing, selling, or leasing only "luxury real estate" and maintaining an average selling price for properties that we designate from time to time, as further described in the Operations Manual, which definitions of, and formulas for calculating, "luxury real estate" are prescribed by IP Owner in the Trademark License Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to obligations outlined in the Trademark License Agreement. This agreement governs how franchisees can represent and use the Christies International Real Estate marks.
Specifically, franchisees cannot claim ownership of the marks, and they must use the "CHRISTIE'S" mark only in the phrase "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE." The agreement also dictates the font to be used for the "CHRISTIE'S" mark and requires franchisees to use the marks in combination with other marks as specified in the agreement. Furthermore, franchisees are obligated to market the marks as a leading luxury brand and are prohibited from associating other trademarks with more luxurious real estate services than those offered under the Christies International Real Estate marks.
Additionally, the agreement stipulates that franchisees must not be directly or indirectly controlled by specified competitors, such as Sotheby's Inc. Franchisees' rights under the agreement are contingent on marketing, selling, or leasing only "luxury real estate" and maintaining a designated average selling price for properties, as defined by the IP Owner in the Trademark License Agreement and detailed in the Operations Manual. These stipulations ensure brand consistency and prevent misuse of the Christies International Real Estate trademarks, protecting the brand's reputation and market position.