What is a Christies International Real Estate franchisee prohibited from advertising?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must place a conspicuous notice on or near the entrance(s) of the Offices(s), that clearly states "EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED," or any modification of the statement as we may require in the Operations Manual ("Disclaimer").
You must include the Disclaimer on all signage, business cards, stationery, promotional and advertising materials, website and internet communications, email signature blocks, real estate documents, and all other materials you use.
- **6.8.
Entity Name Requirements.** You may not use the Marks, including the words "CHRISTIE'S" or "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE" or any confusingly similar words, as any part of the
name of a partnership, corporation, LLC or other entity; however, you are required to operate under the trade name or DBA "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE" with a suffix or prefix that uniquely identifies your Office as we approve before you may open your Business (the "Trade Name").
Your Trade Name must be displayed in accordance with our Operations Manual and the Brand Guidelines.
You must not change your Trade Name without our prior written consent.
6.9. Name and Likeness. You hereby grant us a perpetual, non-exclusive license to use your, your employees, and your agents' name and likeness in all forms and media for advertising, trade, and any other lawful purposes, without compensation to you, your employees, or your agents.
- **7.2.
Local Advertising and Promotions**.
All advertising and promotions must conform with the Operations Manual, including the Brand Guidelines.
We may require you to use our advertising templates or materials in accord with our Operations Manual, including our Brand Guidelines, or as we otherwise approve in writing.
If you use or develop your own marketing materials for your Business, we, in our sole discretion, have the right to require you to remove any marketing materials or advertising that do not comply with the Operations Manual, Brand Guidelines or any laws.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate FDD, franchisees are required to include a disclaimer on all advertising materials stating that each office is independently owned and operated. This disclaimer must be conspicuously placed on signage, business cards, stationery, promotional materials, websites, email signatures, real estate documents, and all other materials used by the franchisee. The specific wording of the disclaimer may be modified by Christies International Real Estate in the Operations Manual.
Christies International Real Estate retains the right to control the use of its trademarks and brand identity. Franchisees must operate under a trade name that includes "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE" along with a unique identifier for their office, as approved by Christies International Real Estate. This trade name must be displayed according to the Operations Manual and Brand Guidelines. Franchisees cannot change their trade name without prior written consent from Christies International Real Estate.
Christies International Real Estate also reserves the right to use the franchisee's, their employees', and their agents' names and likenesses for advertising, trade, and other lawful purposes without compensation. This grants Christies International Real Estate broad rights to use the franchisee's identity in its marketing efforts. Franchisees must ensure that all advertising and promotional activities comply with the Operations Manual and Brand Guidelines, and Christies International Real Estate has the right to require the removal of any materials that do not comply.