• In a dramatic twist worthy of a daytime soap opera, listings portal Zillow has launched a federal suit against Arizona Regional MLS and MLS Inc. That’s right folks, it’s another thrilling episode of “Real Estate Courtroom Battles”.
• Zillow cries foul, alleging that these pesky rivals are trucking in some shady antitrust law infringements. Someone call a lawyer! Or one of those super-intelligent border collies.
• This kerfuffle started when Zillow purchased ShowingTime earlier this year for a cool $500 million. Clearly, they don’t just throw their money around; they’ve got ambition!
• The specific issue on the table? Zillow alleges that the Arizona MLS gang has been restricting access to data feeds, thereby statutorily blocking competition. That’s like cornering the market on toilet paper during a pandemic — c’mon, folks, play fair!
• If that’s not enough, Zillow also gripes that the restriction prevents ShowingTime’s agents from fully utilizing its services. But wait, there’s more! These actions, according to Zillow, unfairly favor ShowingTime’s competitors. Drama, drama, drama!
• The Arizona companies have yet to riposte, but one thing’s for sure, this court case is bound to go down as an epic bout of “who-done-it” in the annals of real estate showbiz.
• This isn’t the first time Zillow’s thrown a legal punch. They’ve also locked horns with Realtor.com in the past, which ended when Zillow agreed to make a “royalty payment” to Realtor.com’s parent company. Zillow sure does like playing Monopoly in real life, doesn’t it?
A Legally Zesty Battle in The Real Estatesphere
Zillow Throws Down the Litigious Gaunlet
Inside the Cutthroat World of Property Listings
Now for the part everyone’s been waiting for, my Very Important Opinion™. The stage is set, and Zillow’s suit against the Arizona MLS entities promises to be yet another “edge of your seat” courtroom combat. What with allegations of hampering competition and restrictive access to data feeds, this case has all the makings of a blockbuster legal thriller, possibly starring George Clooney as a suave Zillow executive.
On one hand, you have Zillow—aka, the big tech company that just wants to make life easier for real estate agents and their clients. Then, on the other hand, you’ve got these MLS entities, presumably just trying to carve out a place in the harsh, unforgiving wasteland of online property listings.
Who will prevail? Will justice be served? Will this result in lower fees for agents or better services for home buyers and sellers? And most importantly, will this whole debacle get turned into a Netflix series?
Only time will tell. Until then, we just have to wait, watch, and, of course, enjoy the drama. After all, who doesn’t love a rumble in the corporate jungle? Get your popcorn ready, folks, cause it’s showtime at ShowingTime!
Original article: https://www.inman.com/2023/12/27/zillow-files-antitrust-lawsuit-against-2-major-mlss/
