For Christies International Real Estate, what is the significance of the 'Marks'?
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.
You agree to the following additional obligations, pursuant to our obligations under the Trademark License Agreement:
(a) You shall not represent that you own any of the Marks.
(b) You shall not use any Marks that consist of or incorporate "CHRISTIE'S" in any manner other than in the phrase "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE."
(c) You shall not use the font of the "CHRISTIE'S" Marks for any words other than "CHRISTIE'S."
(d) You must use the Marks in combination with the marks set forth in Section 7 of Exhibit 1 of this Agreement, which may be modified from time to time in writing, with our prior written consent.
(e) You shall market, hold out and otherwise position the Marks as a leading luxury brand.
You shall not market, hold out or otherwise position any other trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain names, logos or other commercial symbols as being associated with more luxurious real estate brokerage services or more luxurious real estate properties than those offered, marketed or sold under the Marks.
- **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").
- **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.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 54–177)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate FDD, the 'Marks' refer to the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, logos, and commercial symbols that Christies International Real Estate designates for use within its system, including the name CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE itself. As a franchisee, you do not own these marks, but you are granted the right to use them under specific conditions outlined in the franchise agreement.
The FDD places significant restrictions on how a franchisee can use the Marks. For example, franchisees cannot represent that they own any of the Marks, and they must use the Marks in the specific format "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE." The franchisee also must use the Marks in combination with other marks as specified in the agreement and must market the brand as a leading luxury brand. Furthermore, franchisees cannot use the font of the "CHRISTIE'S" Marks for any words other than "CHRISTIE'S."
Christies International Real Estate retains all rights to the Marks and can engage in any business activities associated with them, unless specifically prohibited in the agreement. This includes the right to operate or franchise Christies International Real Estate businesses outside of a franchisee's protected territory. The agreement also specifies that franchisees must operate under the trade name "CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE" with an approved suffix or prefix to identify their office. These regulations ensure brand consistency and protect the brand's reputation, which is particularly important in the luxury real estate market.