What are 'Marks' in the context of a Christies International Real Estate franchise?

According to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the term "Marks" in the context of a Christies International Real Estate franchise refers to the trademarks, service marks, logos and other commercial symbols associated with the brand. Christies International Real Estate franchisees are granted a non-exclusive license to use these Marks to operate their real estate business, subject to certain conditions and limitations.

The FDD outlines specific obligations related to the use of the Marks. Franchisees cannot represent that they own any of the Marks and must use them only in the phrase "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE." They are also restricted from using the font of the "CHRISTIE'S" Marks for any words other than "CHRISTIE'S." The Marks must be used in combination with other marks as specified in the franchise agreement. Franchisees are required to market and position the Marks as a leading luxury brand and cannot associate other trademarks with more luxurious services or properties.

Christies International Real Estate retains significant rights regarding the Marks. They reserve the right to engage in activities associated with the Marks, including licensing and franchising, and can operate businesses under other names and trademarks, even within a franchisee's protected territory. Franchisees must also adhere to digital marketing guidelines and refrain from registering Internet domain names that are confusingly similar to the Marks without prior written approval. Upon termination of the franchise agreement, franchisees must remove all Marks from their website and transfer any domain names containing variations of the Marks to Christies International Real Estate.