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Overview
The court has denied Zillow’s motion for a preliminary injunction against MRED, and the case now moves to arbitration. Rob stands by calling the ruling a “fatality” for Zillow’s Listing Access Standards. Greg argues the fight is far from over and points to PLS v. NAR, which came back after a string of losses. The hosts also debate whether other MLSs will follow MRED’s lead, whether a national MLS can handle compliance, and what Zillow does next.
Key Takeaways
- The court denied Zillow’s preliminary injunction against MRED and sent the dispute to arbitration.
- Rob calls the ruling a “fatality” for Zillow’s Listing Access Standards; Greg says nothing Zillow argued was proven wrong.
- Greg cites PLS v. NAR (2020–2025) as proof that “dead” cases can come back.
- Rob credits the DOJ’s intervention for PLS’s appellate win and notes that the DOJ also shaped this judge’s opinion.
- The judge treated MRED’s policy update as a clarification, not a new rule.
- Rob expects MLSs that paused similar rules during the lawsuit to move forward now.
- The court called MRED going national pro-competitive, which Rob says introduces real MLS competition.
- Greg questions how Compass listings were rushed onto MRED and whether that data is kept accurate.
- The hosts debate whether a national MLS can do compliance when most enforcement relies on local member reports.
- Greg points to Metrolist as evidence that MLSs already compete; Rob says every MLS is still a local monopoly.
- Rob’s thought experiment: if Zillow required direct listing entry, would 96% of listings still show up there?
- Greg estimates only about 50% would, and says Zillow will work within the system rather than blow it up.
- Zillow is already testing a new angle, with previews shared with Realtor.com and RealScout.
- Rob points out that Zillow itself called private listings an existential threat, citing Howard Hanna and Real as brokerages following Compass.
- The Hagens Berman buyer-side inquiry gets a brief debate, including whether sellers are the more likely plaintiffs.
- Greg will debate the MLS’s pro-consumer case on stage at CMLS.
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