What company licenses the GG trademarks to Engel & Volkers?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ss that sells services similar to those you will offer.
Upon expiration or termination of our General Licensing Agreement, the Franchise Agreement will terminate.
Item 13 TRADEMARKS
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.
E&V Residential, which previously owned the Trademarks ENGEL & VÖLKERS and E&V, licensed them to E&V International, who in turn licensed them to U.S. Holding GmbH to use them, and in turn, U.S. Holding GmbH licensed them to us. We also have the right to use the unregistered mark of the house pictured on the cover page of this disclosure document. Grund Genug Verlag, which owns the stylized GG trademarks, has licensed them to E&V International, which in turn licensed U.S. Holding GmbH, and, in turn, U.S. Holding GmbH has licensed them to us. All the license agreements are dated January 9, 2006.
E&V Residential transferred ownership of the ENGEL & VÖLKERS and E&V Trademarks to E&V Marken on February 7, 2008. E&V Marken in turn has licensed E&V Residential to use the marks they formerly owned. In 2025, E&V Marken and E&V Residential are expected to merge, leaving E&V Residential as the surviving entity. E&V Residential, will then again become the owner of the ENGEL & VÖLKERS and E&V trademarks.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 56–59)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Grund Genug Verlag owns the stylized GG trademarks and licenses them to E&V International. E&V International then licenses the GG trademarks to U.S. Holding GmbH, who in turn licenses them to Engel & Volkers. All of these license agreements are dated January 9, 2006. Therefore, while Grund Genug Verlag ultimately owns the GG trademarks, Engel & Volkers receives its license to use them through a chain of licensing agreements.
This multi-layered licensing agreement means that Engel & Volkers's right to use the GG trademarks depends on the continued validity of all the agreements in the chain. If any agreement is terminated, Engel & Volkers's right to use the GG trademarks could be affected. The FDD also states that Engel & Volkers does not acquire any proprietary rights in the GG trademarks themselves and must adhere to the System Documentation for usage guidelines.
Engel & Volkers also states that Grund Genug Verlag has common law rights in the GG and GG GLOBAL GUIDE trademarks. Common law rights are based on the first use of the trademarks in a way that does not cause confusion with other users. Engel & Volkers also states that Grund Genug Verlag intends to renew the registrations before their expiration.
Prospective franchisees should be aware of the potential risks associated with licensed trademarks, as opposed to trademarks owned directly by the franchisor. It would be prudent for a potential Engel & Volkers franchisee to inquire about the stability and long-term prospects of these licensing agreements to ensure continued use of the GG trademarks.