According to the Engel & Volkers FDD, what is included in the definition of 'Trademarks'?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We grant you the non-exclusive right to use the service marks ENGEL & VÖLKERS®, E&V®, GG® and GG GLOBAL GUIDE® and other trademarks, including the unregistered mark of the new ENGEL & VÖLKERS logo pictured on the cover page of this disclosure document, in the operation of your franchised business during the term of your Franchise Agreement. You may also use other current or future trademarks we own or are licensed to use to operate your franchised business as permitted by the System Documentation. By "Trademarks" we mean various Engel & Völkers trade names, trademarks, service marks, logotypes, trade dress and other commercial symbols and slogans used to identify your franchised business, and the GG and GG GLOBAL GUIDE marks.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 56–59)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the term "Trademarks" encompasses various elements used to identify the franchised business. These include Engel & Volkers trade names, trademarks, service marks, logotypes, trade dress, and other commercial symbols and slogans. The Trademarks also include the GG and GG GLOBAL GUIDE marks. Engel & Volkers grants franchisees the non-exclusive right to use service marks such as ENGEL & VÖLKERS®, E&V®, GG®, and GG GLOBAL GUIDE®, along with other trademarks, including the unregistered mark of the new ENGEL & VÖLKERS logo. Franchisees may also use other current or future trademarks that Engel & Volkers owns or is licensed to use, as permitted by the System Documentation.
Engel & Volkers has been granted an exclusive license to use the Engel & Völkers System and Trademarks in the U.S. by U.S. Holding GmbH, which in turn was granted a master license by E&V Residential. Franchisees do not acquire any proprietary rights in the Trademarks through the franchise agreement. All goodwill established by the use of the Trademarks benefits E&V Marken or Grund Genug Verlag. Franchisees must not contest the validity or ownership of the Trademarks, including ENGEL & VÖLKERS, E&V, GG, and GG GLOBAL GUIDE. Unauthorized use of the Trademarks constitutes an infringement of E&V Marken's or Grund Genug Verlag's rights.
Several Engel & Volkers trademarks are registered on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). These include ENGEL & VÖLKERS (Registration Number 3011525, registered November 1, 2005), E&V (stylized lettering in red and black, Registration Number 3076831, registered April 4, 2006), and additional registrations under numbers 6976262 (August 18, 2021) and 7656711 (January 21, 2025). Additionally, Grund Genug Verlag owns trademarks such as GG (stylized, Registration Number 3627218, registered May 26, 2009) and GG GLOBAL GUIDE (stylized, Registration Number 3796063, registered June 1, 2010), which are also registered on the Principal Register of the USPTO.