What is the permitted use of Engel & Volkers' Confidential Information by the recipient?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
r names and passwords); Franchisor's training and other instructional programs and materials; all elements of Franchisor's recommended staffing, staff training and staff certification policies and procedures; all communications between Franchisor and Franchisee; additions or improvements to, deletions from and modifications and variations of the components of the ENGEL & VÖLKERS System and the other systems and methods of operations which Franchisor employs now or in the future; research, development and test programs for services and operations; and, all other information, knowledge and know-how which either Franchisor or their respective affiliates, now or in the future, designate as confidential.
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- Franchisor is disclosing the Confidential Information to Recipient solely on the condition that Recipient agree, and Recipient does hereby agree, that any Confidential Information received from Franchisor (a) shall only be used for purposes of performing the Franchise Agreement, (b) will not be used in any other business, manner or capacity, (c) will have its absolute confidentiality maintained both during and after the Term of the Franchise Agreement, (d) will not be copied without authorization, and (e) will not be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of Franchisor. Recipient agrees that use of Confidential Information in connection with any generative, artificial intelligence tool or program is considered disclosure of such Confidential Information to a third party and constitutes a breach of this Agreement. Recipient agrees to use reasonable care to prevent the disclosure of the Confidential Information to any third party, and further agrees to limit the dissemination of the Confidential Information within its own organization to individuals whose duties justify the need to know such information, and then only provided that there is a clear understanding by such individuals of their obligation to maintain the confidential status of the Confidential Information and to restrict its use solely to the purposes specified herein. Each other person receiving the Confidential Information must also sign a copy of this Agreement.
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- Recipient acknowledges that no other right or license to use the Confidential Information is granted by this Agreement, and agrees that the amount of the Confidential Information to be disclosed to Recipient is completely within the discretion of Franchisor.
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- Recipient hereby agrees to inform Franchisor of all experience gained during use of the Engel & Völkers System and the rights under the Franchise Agreement, and to allow Franchisor and other Engel & Völkers franchisees to use the know-how gained from his/her/its experience free of charge.
Recipient hereby assigns to Franchisor any such amendments or improvements to the Engel & Völkers System.
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- Upon termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, or earlier if requested by Franchisor, Recipient will return all Confidential Information (including any copies thereof that Franchisor may have permitted Recipient to make) to Franchisor.
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- Recipient shall be under no obligation under this Agreement with respect to any information (a) which is, at the time of the disclosure, available to the general public; (b) which becomes at a later date available to the general public through no fault of the Recipient and then only after said date; or (c) which Recipient can demonstrate was in its possession through valid means before receipt.
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- Recipient hereby undertakes not to provide residential real estate brokerage services competing with the Engel & Völkers System during the Term of this Agreement (which means the term of Recipient's employment by, ownership participation in, association with or service to Franchisee), either directly or indirectly, in an employed or a self-employed capacity, for its own account or for the account of a third party. Recipient may engage in other business activities that do not involve other competitive real estate agency services. However, all these activities must be conducted under another trade name and in a manner (including from a separate location if Franchisor, in its sole judgment, believes it is necessary) that eliminates the prospect that the public might believe the business is related to the Engel & Völkers System in any way.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 88–302)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the recipient of confidential information is permitted to use it solely for the purpose of evaluating whether to enter into a franchise relationship with Engel & Volkers, either directly or indirectly, to operate a Residential Real Estate Brokerage. The recipient acknowledges that the confidential information is proprietary and constitutes trade secrets in which Engel & Volkers has a proprietary interest. This information includes, but is not limited to, business and operational secrets and all data related to the Engel & Volkers system, including the Integrated Product Suite and know-how conveyed in the System Documentation.
The agreement explicitly prohibits the use of confidential information in any other business, manner, or capacity. Such unauthorized use would be considered an unfair method of competition with Engel & Volkers, its affiliates, and its other franchisees. The recipient must maintain absolute confidentiality and is not allowed to copy the information without authorization or disclose it to any third party without prior written consent from Engel & Volkers. Furthermore, the use of confidential information with any generative, artificial intelligence tool or program is considered a breach of the agreement, as it constitutes disclosure to a third party.
Upon completing the review of confidential information, or sooner if requested, the recipient must return all written materials, including copies, to Engel & Volkers or its master franchisees or franchises. The agreement clarifies that no other right or license to use the confidential information is granted, and the extent of information disclosed is at Engel & Volkers' discretion. This obligation to maintain confidentiality survives any decision by the recipient not to enter into a franchise relationship with Engel & Volkers, ensuring the protection of proprietary information regardless of the recipient's ultimate decision.