There are new industry grumblings of websites infringing MLS and broker copyrights. We have received several emails regarding the alleged infringement, and I am communicating with one website owner on … Read more about Copyright ownership of MLS listings – a refresher
Strategic view of proposed NAR social media, RSS, mobile policy
In Anaheim next week, NAR will likely pass the social media (and RSS etc.) policy proposed by its newest PAG on the topic. Elizabeth has summarized some of the tactical details on the social media … Read more about Strategic view of proposed NAR social media, RSS, mobile policy
NAR IDX Policy proposals in Anaheim
This post is by Larson/Sobotka attorney and consultant Elizabeth Sobotka. This post discusses proposals to change NAR policy regarding how and where MLS participants may display IDX data. The … Read more about NAR IDX Policy proposals in Anaheim
A quick and dirty discussion of defensive .xxx registration
The post below is written by Mitch Skinner, the lawyer who joined our firm earlier this year. He's been crazy busy doing data licensing agreements for MLSs (CoreLogic, RPR, etc.) over the summer but … Read more about A quick and dirty discussion of defensive .xxx registration
What if the MLS industry does not apply for the .MLS top-level domain?
(This post originally appeared on the MLS Domains Association's website.) Our client, MLS Domains Association, is planning to obtain .MLS as a new top-level domain (TLD) on the Internet. Common … Read more about What if the MLS industry does not apply for the .MLS top-level domain?
RPR: A year (or so) later
A couple hundred MLSs have signed agreements to license data to RPR in the last 18 months. Some of those agreements have already “auto-renewed” for their second year, and many others are yet to do so. … Read more about RPR: A year (or so) later
“Franchisor IDX indexing”: Misnomer and mistake
Sorry for the quite long post, but there's quite a lot to say about this topic!There has been much discussion of a National Association of REALTORS® policy, which NAR officially refers to as “display … Read more about “Franchisor IDX indexing”: Misnomer and mistake
Update on the CIVIX issue
Like many folks in the industry, we've spent the first couple days of this week looking over the final documents that embody the deal NAR struck with CIVIX last week. The final documents had terms … Read more about Update on the CIVIX issue
Has NAR solved the “CIVIX problem”?
(UPDATE 5/25: We published an update on this subject. Markups on this post reflect that newer information.)At NAR’s midyear meetings last week, NAR General Counsel Laurie Janik and industry consultant … Read more about Has NAR solved the “CIVIX problem”?
A Listing Syndication Discussion
Updated Feb 16, 2011: Revision to definition to address IDX Additions are underlined, deletions struck through. There has been a great deal of talk and writing lately about MLS/broker listing … Read more about A Listing Syndication Discussion
The End of MLS as We Know it (Redux) – Part III
Note: I previously posted an explanation of this reposting of a series of columns I did for Inman News back in 2006. This is the third of three. Read the first and second."Facts are the enemy of … Read more about The End of MLS as We Know it (Redux) – Part III
The End of MLS as We Know it (Redux) – Part II
Note: I previously posted an explanation of this reposting of a series of columns I did for Inman News back in 2006. This is the second of three. Read first and third parts. "Lack of money is the root … Read more about The End of MLS as We Know it (Redux) – Part II