Zillow Responds to Real Estate Startup’s Antitrust Suit
REX’s lawsuit from Zillow alleges that separating MLS listings from other listings presents the MLS listings an unfair advantage. Zillow states MLS rules leave it no choice.
NEW YORK – In April 30 court docket filings, Zillow stated an antitrust lawsuit it faces above how it displays actual estate listings could debilitate its platform.
REX, a serious estate startup, questioned a federal court to compel Zillow and its subsidiary, Trulia, to stop separating properties for sale into individuals shown by Countrywide Association of Realtors® (NAR) members and all those shown by other folks. The NAR listings appear from nearby Multiple Listing Expert services (MLSs).
In January, Zillow altered how it shows listings following it attained access to the MLS Net Facts Exchange (IDX) feeds, which it works by using underneath principles recognized by NAR. These principles stop internet websites that use its data feeds from merging NAR listings with people provided by non-NAR brokers.
Zillow mentioned it thinks the policies are out of date, but it experienced to concur to IDX display licenses to get access to the IDX data. Zillow also said that obtain to MLS listings expanded its offerings. In Seattle the place Zillow is headquartered for example, the organization explained it was able to incorporate 3,000 much more household listings right after changing to the IDX feeds.
REX sued Zillow in federal court because it alleges that Zillow’s latest arrangement favors listings by brokers who belong to NAR. REX claims Zillow’s January alter spots non-NAR listings in a “hidden tab,” producing it extra challenging for consumers to find these houses for sale.
In an April 15 submitting, REX mentioned listings that moved from the “hidden tab” to Zillow’s principal listings tab seasoned as significantly as a 500% boost in views. As a result, REX questioned the courtroom for an injunction that would prohibit Zillow from separating the listings.
Source: Politico (05/01/21) Nylen, Leah
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