How are Christies International Real Estate franchisees required to market the Marks?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
For instance, you are not permitted to use any Marks that consist of or incorporate "CHRISTIE'S" in any manner other than in the phrase "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE." In addition, you are required to market, hold out and otherwise position the Marks as a leading luxury brand, and you must not market, hold out or otherwise position any other trademarks or other commercial symbols as being associated with additional or more luxury real estate brokerage services,or additional or more luxury real estate properties than those offered, marketed or sold under the Marks. You must use the Marks in combination with your marks, which will be set forth in Section 7 of Exhibit 1 of the License Agreement. Further, you must only sell "luxury" real estate and maintain 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. The Trademark License Agreement is confidential between us and IP Owner. You may designate properties as "luxury real estate" based on your market and relevant market and competitive issues; provided however, that we have the right to require you to remove such designations in our sole discretion.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 38–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to market the Marks as a leading luxury brand. Franchisees must not position any other trademarks or commercial symbols as being associated with additional or more luxury real estate brokerage services, or properties, than those offered under the Christies International Real Estate Marks. Franchisees must use the Marks in combination with their own marks, as specified in the License Agreement.
Christies International Real Estate franchisees are required to only sell "luxury" real estate and maintain an average selling price for properties that the franchisor designates. The definition of "luxury real estate" and the formulas for calculating it are determined by the IP Owner in the Trademark License Agreement. While franchisees can initially designate properties as "luxury real estate" based on their market and competitive issues, Christies International Real Estate retains the right to require the franchisee to remove such designations at its sole discretion.
These requirements ensure brand consistency and maintain the luxury image associated with Christies International Real Estate. Prospective franchisees should carefully review the Operations Manual and Trademark License Agreement to fully understand the specific guidelines and restrictions on marketing and property designations. Understanding these requirements is crucial for franchisees to effectively promote the brand and avoid potential conflicts with the franchisor.