Does the Engel & Volkers franchise agreement grant an exclusive or non-exclusive right to use the trademarks?

According to the 2025 Engel & Volkers Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are granted a non-exclusive right to use specific service marks and trademarks. These include ENGEL & VÖLKERS®, E&V®, GG® and GG GLOBAL GUIDE®, along with the unregistered mark of the new Engel & Volkers logo. This right is specifically for operating the franchised business during the term of the Franchise Agreement, and also extends to other current or future trademarks as permitted by the System Documentation. The term "Trademarks" encompasses trade names, trademarks, service marks, logotypes, trade dress, commercial symbols, and slogans used to identify the franchised business, as well as the GG and GG GLOBAL GUIDE marks.

This non-exclusive grant means that Engel & Volkers retains the right to authorize other franchisees or entities to use the same trademarks within or outside a franchisee's territory. This is a common arrangement in franchising, allowing the franchisor to expand brand presence and market coverage. However, it also means that an Engel & Volkers franchisee may face competition from other franchisees or authorized users of the trademarks, which could impact their market share and revenue.

Engel & Volkers also outlines specific restrictions and requirements regarding the use of their trademarks. Franchisees cannot use names confusingly similar to Engel & Völkers as part of their company's legal business name without prior written permission. Franchisees must also identify their company as independently owned and comply with trademark and service mark registration notices. Furthermore, Engel & Volkers maintains control over the use of trademarks in electronic commerce, including website domain names, and has the right to review online content to protect the brand's reputation. These stipulations ensure brand consistency and quality control across all franchise locations.