What is the scope of the license granted to Christies International Real Estate to use and sublicense the Marks?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
e a licensed CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE business using the Marks and System.
- C. We have agreed to grant you the right to develop and operate a licensed CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE business subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including all exhibits and related documents) and our Operations Manual.
AGREEMENTS
NOW, THEREFORE, for value received, you and we ("the Parties") agree as follows:
1. GRANT
1.1. Grant. Subject to the provisions contained in this Agreement, including all exhibits and related documents, and Operations Manual, we grant you a non-exclusive license to own and operate a CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE business (the "Business"). The physical address of your Business ("Main Office") must be located within the Protected Territory and approved by us in writing before you can begin to operate your Business. Your Main Office and the Protected Territory are identified in Exhibit 1 to this Agreement. You may not relocate your Main Office without our prior written consent, as described in Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
1.2 Nature of the Protected Territory. Except as described below, and except as modified by Exhibit 1 (if applicable), neither we nor our affiliates will establish and operate, or grant licenses or franchises to others to establish and operate a CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE business within the Protected Territory during the term of this Agreement, so long as you are in compliance with this Agreement. The license granted to you under this Agreement is personal in nature and shall only be used from the Main Office and any Additional Office authorized by us. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, and subject to the terms of this Agreement, you shall have the right to offer and sell real estate brokerage services identified by the Marks through any other channels of distribution, including the Internet but excluding the metaverse. We reserve, maintain, and control all rights with respect to said metaverse. As used herein, "metaverse" means any 3D virtual space powered by technologies – including virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain – that allows people to interact with each other and to have lifelike experiences online. The rights granted under this Agreement are subject to the limitations set forth in the Operations Manual or as we otherwise periodically prescribe, which may include certain territorial policies that we establish or modify from time to time. You may not establish or operate any CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE office outside the Protected Territory, unless we permit you to do so under a separate broker Affiliate license agreement. You may not subfranchise or sublicense any of your rights under this Agreement.
1.2.1 Subject to Section 1.2.2 below, we and our affiliates, and our and their respective licensees, franchisees, and Affiliates, as well as our agents and the agents of any of these parties, have the right (without compensation to you) to offer and sell real estate brokerage services under the Marks to clients located within the Protected Territory and for real estate located within the Protected Territory, as long as the real estate brokerage services are offered and sold from offices of CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE businesses outside of the Protected Territory. In turn, and also subject to Section 1.2.2 below, you and your agents have the right to offer and sell real estate brokerage services under the Marks to clients located outside the Protected Territory and for real estate located outside the Protected Territory but only inside the United States (including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories), as its borders exist on the Effective Date, so long as the real estate brokerage services are offered and sold from the Main Office and any authorized Additional Office. However, you acknowledge and agree: (1) that your rights outside your Protected Territory may be limited based on territorial grants or protections that we or our affiliates have granted to other Affiliates or other third parties, and (2) that the scope of your rights outside of your Protected Territory may be modified by us from time to time, and are subject to the territorial policies that we establish or modify from time to time in the Operations Manual.
1.2.2. If you and your agents are licensed, as prescribed by law, to provide real estate brokerage services in an area where another licensee, franchisee or Affiliate has been granted a protected territory by us ("Other Area") but their grant does not prevent others from offering real estate brokerage services under the Marks in the Other Area, so long as you do not exceed 5% of your inventory (as measured by the number of properties) at any given time, you may list properties for sale using the Marks in the Other Area so long as they are listed from your Main Office or Additional Office. If your properties listed in the Other Area exceeds 5% of your inventory and, upon notice from us, you do not cease such listings promptly, you will be in default, and we can terminate the Agreement. Conversely, to the extent another licensee, franchisee, Affiliate, or its agents, are licensed as prescribed by law, to provide real estate brokerage services in your Protected Territory, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to limit such party from listing more than 5% of its inventory of properties using the Marks in your Protected Territory, assuming such party has not been granted unlimited rights by us. However, we have no obligation to enforce this provision against such other parties.
1.2.3 Except for the limitations described in this Section, you acknowledge and agree that you do not have any right to exclude, control or impose conditions on our development of future licensed, franchised, company or affiliate-owned CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE businesses, or other company owned businesses at any time or at any location.
1.3. Rights Reserved to Us. We reserve (for ourselves and our affiliates) reserve all rights to engage in all activities associated with CHRISTIES INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE Marks, and all rights to engage in any business, licensing, franchising, or other activities associated with other brands, marks, and real estate brokerage systems, anywhere in the world, not specifically granted to you under this Agreement or expressly prohibited under this Agreement, or expressly prohibited from us engaging in under this Agreement. Without limiting the preceding sentence, we (for ourselves and our affiliates) specifically reserve the right, from any location at any time, without any compensation to you or any other Affiliate and regardless of whether it competes with the Business, the following rights:
(a) To own and operate, and grant licenses or franchises to others to own and operate, CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE offices outside of the Protected Territory;
(b) To own and operate, and grant licenses or franchises to others to own and operate, any business of any kind (other than an office located within your Protected Territory selling the same services as a CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE businesses) under the Marks at any locations within or outside of your Protected Territory, including by electronic means such as the Internet, applications, by websites we may establish, catalog sales, telemarketing, or other direct marketing sales;
(c) To own and operate, and grant licenses or franchises to others to own and operate, any business of any kind, including a real estate business selling the same or similar services as CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE businesses, under any names, trademarks, service marks, logos and other commercial symbols other than the Marks, regardless of where such businesses are located, including within the Protected Territory;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate FDD, the grant outlines the rights and limitations concerning the use of the CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE Marks. Christies International Real Estate grants franchisees a non-exclusive license to operate a real estate business under its brand, with the franchisee's main office required to be within a protected territory approved by Christies International Real Estate. Franchisees cannot relocate their main office without prior written consent from Christies International Real Estate.
While franchisees can offer and sell real estate brokerage services under the Marks through various channels, including the internet (excluding the metaverse), they are restricted from establishing or operating any Christies International Real Estate office outside their protected territory without a separate broker affiliate license agreement. Furthermore, franchisees are explicitly prohibited from subfranchising or sublicensing any rights granted to them under the agreement. Christies International Real Estate maintains control over the metaverse and reserves the right to modify the limitations set forth in the operations manual, including territorial policies.
Christies International Real Estate also retains significant rights, including the ability to engage in activities associated with the CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE Marks and other brands, as well as the right to operate or license others to operate CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE offices outside the franchisee's protected territory. They can also operate any business under the Marks, regardless of location, through electronic means or other direct marketing sales. These rights are reserved without any obligation to compensate the franchisee and regardless of potential competition with the franchisee's business. Franchisees must adhere to additional obligations, such as not representing ownership of the Marks and using them only in the specified manner, positioning the Marks as a leading luxury brand, and ensuring they are not controlled by competitors. Franchisees' rights are contingent on marketing only "luxury real estate" and maintaining an average selling price designated by Christies International Real Estate.