As a Remax franchisee, am I allowed to transfer or sublicense any part of the Back Office Software?
Remax Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Among other things, the Back Office License Agreement will (i) require that you comply with all applicable laws; (ii) prohibit transferring or sublicensing any part of the Back Office Software; (iii) prohibit reverse engineering of any part of the Back Office Software; (iv) prohibit using the Back Office Software to facilitate or allow mass communications such as email or text message 'blasts' to contacts who have not expressly opted-in to such communications; (v) prohibit using any part of the Back Office Software to build a competitive product; (vi) provide that IRE has the right to modify the Back Office License Agreement at any time and in its sole discretion; (vii) provide that IRE may discontinue support of outdated software versions; and (viii) require that you indemnify and hold IRE harmless for your violation of the Back Office License Agreement including but not limited to any claims or damages that may arise as a result of your negligence or culpable acts or omissions or violations of law.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 59–71)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Remax's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, as a franchisee, you are explicitly prohibited from transferring or sublicensing any part of the Back Office Software. This restriction is part of the BoldTrail Back Office License Agreement that you are required to sign with Inside RE, LLC (IRE). This agreement outlines the terms of use for the software, which is a crucial component for managing your office's operations and reporting to Remax, LLC.
The Back Office License Agreement includes several other key restrictions. You are prohibited from reverse engineering the software, using it for unauthorized mass communications, or using it to create a competitive product. IRE also retains the right to modify the agreement at any time and may discontinue support for outdated software versions. These terms are typical in software licensing agreements to protect the intellectual property and maintain control over the software's use and development.
Furthermore, the agreement requires you to indemnify and hold IRE harmless for any violations of the Back Office License Agreement, including claims or damages resulting from your negligence, culpable acts, omissions, or violations of law. This means you are responsible for any legal or financial repercussions arising from misuse of the software. Given these stipulations, it is important for prospective Remax franchisees to carefully review the BoldTrail Back Office License Agreement (Exhibit A-11) to fully understand their obligations and potential liabilities related to the use of the Back Office Software.