Zillow has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in Illinois alleging that MRED and Compass conspired to block its access to listings. MRED counters that it is simply enforcing contractual terms Zillow previously accepted, including a 24-hour listing display policy. The core disagreement centers on private listings marketed outside public platforms: Zillow claims MRED is favoring Compass by restricting access to these exclusive properties, while MRED maintains Zillow agreed to display all listings it receives. A federal judge granted Zillow a temporary injunction restoring its feeds, but the underlying antitrust claims remain unresolved.
Attorneys should monitor this case for its implications on MLS control over major listing platforms and the enforceability of private listing restrictions. The outcome will likely shape how brokerages can use exclusive listings as competitive tools and whether MLSs can leverage feed access to enforce compliance with display policies. The temporary injunction buys time, but the substantive legal questions—whether MRED's actions constitute antitrust violations or legitimate contract enforcement—remain pending.