Is the right to use the Engel & Volkers trademarks limited to a specific geographic area?
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 franchise grants a non-exclusive right to use its trademarks, implying that while franchisees can use the trademarks, Engel & Volkers retains the right to allow others to use them as well. Specifically, franchisees can use the service marks ENGEL & VÖLKERS®, E&V®, GG® and GG GLOBAL GUIDE®, along with other trademarks, to operate their franchised business during the term of the Franchise Agreement. These trademarks include both registered and unregistered marks, such as the new Engel & Volkers logo. Engel & Volkers also retains the right to permit the use of current or future trademarks as specified in the System Documentation.
Engel & Volkers maintains control over how its trademarks are used, especially in electronic commerce. Franchisees are required to use a subdomain of the Engel & Volkers website and must seek approval before registering any variations of the trademarks for online use. This control extends to social media and other online platforms, where Engel & Volkers has the right to review content and require the removal of any questionable material. Upon termination of the franchise agreement, franchisees must transfer their website addresses and domain names to Engel & Volkers without compensation.
While franchisees are permitted to use the Engel & Volkers trademarks, they cannot use names confusingly similar to Engel & Völkers in their company's legal name without prior written permission. Franchisees must also identify their company as independently owned and comply with trademark registration requirements to differentiate themselves from the franchisor. All goodwill generated from the use of the trademarks benefits E&V Marken or Grund Genug Verlag, and franchisees are prohibited from contesting the validity or ownership of the trademarks. Unauthorized use of the trademarks constitutes an infringement of the rights of E&V Marken or Grund Genug Verlag.