Under what condition is a Christies International Real Estate franchisee allowed to have an independent website?
Christies_International_Real_Estate Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Private Websites. You are not allowed to have an independent website or obtain or use any domain name (Internet address) for your Business, without first obtaining our written approval. (License Agreement, Section 7.4). If we permit you to maintain an independent website for your Business, you must comply with the policies that we establish from time to time regarding such website which include, but are not limited to, the Brand Guidelines that are contained in the Operations Manual. You must not register, as Internet domain names, any of the Marks or any abbreviation, acronym or variation of the Marks, or any other name that could be deemed confusingly similar.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 26–33)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Christies International Real Estate FDD, franchisees are generally restricted from operating independent websites for their business. However, a franchisee may be permitted to maintain an independent website if they first obtain written approval from Christies International Real Estate.
If Christies International Real Estate grants permission for a franchisee to have an independent website, the franchisee must adhere to the policies established by Christies International Real Estate. These policies include the Brand Guidelines outlined in the Operations Manual. This ensures that the franchisee's website aligns with the brand standards and overall marketing strategy of Christies International Real Estate.
Furthermore, franchisees are prohibited from registering Internet domain names that include Christies International Real Estate's trademarks (the Marks), abbreviations, acronyms, variations of the Marks, or any other names that could be considered confusingly similar. This restriction is in place to protect the brand's identity and prevent customer confusion.