What is the name of the company that owns the rights to the Marks used by Christies International Real Estate?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 21.9. "Marks" means the trademarks, service marks, and other trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain names, logos and commercial symbols that we have designated, or may in the future designate, for use in the System, which include CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Christies International Real Estate Franchise Disclosure Document, the term "Marks" is defined as the trademarks, service marks, and other trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain names, logos, and commercial symbols that Christies International Real Estate has designated, or may in the future designate, for use in the System, which include CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE. The document does not specifically state the name of the company that owns these marks.
However, the FDD does mention an "IP Owner" in the context of defining "luxury real estate" within the Trademark License Agreement. It states that the definitions of, and formulas for calculating, "luxury real estate" are prescribed by the IP Owner in the Trademark License Agreement. This suggests that an entity separate from Christies International Real Estate itself holds the intellectual property rights to the brand's marks.
A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from the franchisor regarding the identity of the IP Owner and the specifics of the Trademark License Agreement to fully understand the legal framework governing the use of the Christies International Real Estate brand and associated marks.