Does Remax, LLC have any patents that are material to the franchise?
Remax Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
the Marks and its right to set standards to govern use of the Marks by RE/MAX offices.
RE/MAX, LLC does not actually know of either superior prior rights or infringing uses that could materially affect a franchisee's use of RE/MAX, LLC's Principal Marks in any state.
Item 14
PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
There are no patents that are material to the franchise.
RE/MAX, LLC claims copyrights in various materials used by RE/MAX offices, including the Office Materials (which may include audiovisual works, manuals, handbooks, and workbooks). These copyrights have generally not been registered with the Copyright Office. You may use these various items only in the manner RE/MAX, LLC specifies and only while operating your Office under the Franchise Agreement.
In addition to its trademark registrations for the RE/MAX balloon design, RE/MAX, LLC owns the following copyright registrations:
| | Work | Registration Number | Date | First Publication | |--------|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|------------|----------------------| | REMAX | "RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Logo (Vertical-1998)" | VA 1-418-052 | 06/15/2007 | Approx. 03/01/1998 | | RE/MEX | "RE/MAX Hot air Balloon Photograph (Vertical-1991)" | VA 1-418-053 | 06/15/2007 | Approx. 03/03/1991 | Under current U.S. law, the duration of copyright for these works is to end of the calendar year, 95 years from the year of the work's first publication, and copyright in these works cannot be renewed beyond that duration. RE/MAX, LLC takes no position whether, as between trademark rights and copyright in these logos, copyright is material to the franchise.
The Office Materials that you will be allowed to use in operating your Office include RE/MAX, LLC's confidential information, consisting of recruiting techniques, accounting procedures, and other methods of operating RE/MAX offices. You will not be permitted to use this confidential information in an unauthorized manner and you will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent its disclosure to others.
You will be required to notify RE/MAX Regional and RE/MAX, LLC immediately of any third-party infringement of or challenge to any of these copyrights, or of any claim by any person of any rights in any such copyright, and you will not communicate with any person other than RE/MAX, LLC and its
attorneys in connection with any such infringement, challenge or claim. RE/MAX, LLC has the right to take whatever action it deems appropriate and to control exclusively any litigation or other proceeding arising from any infringement, challenge or claim relating to any of its copyrights. You will be required to sign any documents, provide such assistance and take any other reasonable, lawful action that RE/MAX, LLC's attorneys say is necessary or advisable to protect and maintain RE/MAX, LLC's interests in any litigation or proceeding related to its copyrights or otherwise to protect and maintain RE/MAX, LLC's interests in its copyrights.
If it becomes advisable at any time in RE/MAX, LLC's sole discretion for you to modify or discontinue the use of any material covered by a copyright and/or use one or more additional or substitute materials, you will be required, at your expense, to comply with RE/MAX, LLC's directions within a reasonable time after receiving notice.
Source: Item 14 — Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information (FDD pages 79–80)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Remax's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, there are no patents that are material to the franchise. However, Remax, LLC does claim copyrights in various materials used by Remax offices, including Office Materials like audiovisual works, manuals, handbooks, and workbooks. These copyrights are generally not registered with the Copyright Office. Franchisees may only use these materials in the manner specified by Remax, LLC and only while operating under the Franchise Agreement.
Remax also owns copyright registrations for the "RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Logo (Vertical-1998)" and the "RE/MAX Hot air Balloon Photograph (Vertical-1991)," with registration numbers VA 1-418-052 and VA 1-418-053, respectively. Both were registered on June 15, 2007, with first publications around March 1, 1998, and March 3, 1991. The duration of copyright under current U.S. law extends to the end of the calendar year, 95 years from the work's first publication.
As a Remax franchisee, you're required to notify Remax Regional and Remax, LLC immediately of any third-party infringement or challenges to these copyrights. Franchisees must also assist Remax, LLC in protecting its interests in any related litigation. If Remax, LLC deems it necessary to modify or discontinue the use of any copyrighted material, franchisees must comply with these directions at their own expense. There are currently no effective determinations of the Copyright Office or any court regarding the copyrighted materials, nor are there any known infringing uses that could materially affect a franchisee's use of the materials.