What specific service marks does Engel & Volkers grant franchisees the non-exclusive right to use?

According to Engel & Volkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are granted the non-exclusive right to use specific service marks during the term of their Franchise Agreement. These service marks include ENGEL & VÖLKERS®, E&V®, GG®, and GG GLOBAL GUIDE®. 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 grants the right to use the unregistered mark of the new Engel & Volkers logo.

Engel & Volkers maintains control over how franchisees use these trademarks. Franchisees cannot use names confusingly similar to Engel & Völkers, such as ENGEL & VOELKERS, ENGEL AND VÖLKERS, ENGEL VOELKERS, E&V, or EV, as part of their company's legal business name without prior written permission. Franchisees must also identify their company as independently owned and give notices of trademark and service mark registrations as specified by Engel & Volkers. Upon termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, franchisees must immediately remove the Engel & Volkers trademarks from their business name and terminate any fictitious or assumed name registrations.

Engel & Volkers also outlines specific requirements for using trademarks in electronic commerce, including on the franchisee's website, which is a subdomain of the Engel & Volkers website. Franchisees must provide copies of all proposed applications for registration of any trademarks or variations for use in electronic commerce and obtain prior written approval before filing any application. Upon expiration or termination of the agreement, the franchisee must transfer their internet or website addresses and domain names to Engel & Volkers without compensation. Engel & Volkers retains the right to review all online content on social media, blogs, and other online sites where the trademarks are used to ensure they align with the brand's reputation and quality standards. They can require franchisees to remove any questionable content or cease using the trademarks on such sites altogether.

Engel & Volkers implemented a brand refinement and updated the look of certain logos and designs and uses a slightly modified design for the new logo pictured on the cover page of the disclosure document, and for the "E&V" logo. Engel & Volkers also states that by not having a federal registration for the new logo or the new house, that trademark does not have many legal benefits and rights as a federally registered trademark. If their right to use that trademark is challenged, the franchisee may have to change to an alternative trademark, which may increase their expenses. Engel & Volkers also states that detailed instructions for the use of the Trademarks can be found in the System Documentation.