Where can an Engel & Volkers franchisee find the permitted uses of trademarks for their franchised business?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may use the Trademarks to publicize your activity under the Franchise Agreement in correspondence (including your business documents, letterheads, invoices, business cards, stickers, etc.)
Direct Franchise EV FDD 03/31/2025
and also in advertisements, subject to compliance with the standards we stipulate in the System Documentation. You can use the trademark ENGEL & VÖLKERS and other Trademarks solely in accordance with the provisions of your Franchise Agreement and System Documentation and you cannot apply for any mark or names conflicting with the Trademarks or cause those symbols or names to be registered or prejudice the rights attaching to those Trademarks in any other way. Detailed instructions for the use of the Trademarks can be found in the System Documentation.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 56–59)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, detailed instructions for the use of the trademarks can be found in the System Documentation. 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 are permitted to use these trademarks in the operation of their franchised business during the term of the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees may also use other current or future trademarks that Engel & Volkers owns or is licensed to use, as permitted by the System Documentation. The term "Trademarks" encompasses various Engel & Völkers trade names, trademarks, service marks, logotypes, trade dress, and other commercial symbols and slogans used to identify the franchised business, as well as the GG and GG GLOBAL GUIDE marks.
Engel & Volkers also stipulates standards for using the trademarks in correspondence, including business documents, letterheads, invoices, business cards, and stickers, and in advertisements, all of which must comply with the standards outlined in the System Documentation. Franchisees can use the ENGEL & VÖLKERS trademark and other trademarks solely in accordance with the provisions of the Franchise Agreement and System Documentation. They cannot apply for any mark or names conflicting with the trademarks or cause those symbols or names to be registered, nor can they prejudice the rights attached to those trademarks in any way.
Engel & Volkers maintains control over the use of trademarks in electronic commerce, including on the franchisee's website, which is a subdomain of Engel & Volkers' website. Franchisees must comply with the requirements set forth in the System Documentation regarding the use of trademarks in electronic commerce. Engel & Volkers has the right to review all online content on social media sites, blogs, in electronic communications, and on other online sites where the trademarks are used to protect the brand's reputation and quality. They may require franchisees to remove any questionable usage or content involving the trademarks or cease using the trademarks altogether on such sites.