The latest on Zillow

Execs from Zillow, Compass and MRED testified in Chicago on Wednesday in a hearing that could have implications for how listing rules can be enforced.

The Chicagoland MLS appears to be seeking alternative solutions to a preliminary injunction hearing, which is scheduled to begin this week.

A day after Real’s motion to compel arbitration was granted, the plaintiffs moved to dismiss the firm from the antitrust case against Zillow.

The ruling also granted Real’s request to compel arbitration. Plus, CoStar filing rejected in MRED case; Compass settles telemarketing complaint.

The settlements appear close to final approval. Plus, CoStar says Zillow’s trying to “avoid accountability” in copyright case; VU asks court to toss RESPA suit.

CoStar, which operates competing portal Homes.com, filed a brief on Wednesday saying the court shouldn’t reward Zillow’s “own anticompetitive conduct.”

The MLS said that while negotiations remain productive, it will not cut any data feeds. Realtracs is also in discussions with three other top search portals.

The court said the portal’s request for the allegedly “conspiratorial communications” was “unduly burdensome," but agreed to extend Zillow's TRO against MRED.

Two U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to the federal agency requesting a review of potentially “deceptive” referral practices on Zillow and other platforms.

The Tennessee-based MLS threatened to cut the portal's feed on June 1 because it was violating Realtracs’ IDX rules. Zillow now has another week to comply.

The Tennessee-based MLS is the second to claim Zillow is violating its IDX rules, and it says the portal has until June 1 to comply — or lose listing access.

While a partial win for Zillow, the MLS and Compass also praised the decision, which bars the portal from excluding MRED listings that don’t meet its standards.

After the MLS cut Zillow’s feeds — a “dramatic and unprecedented decision,” per a court filing — the portal requested an emergency order to reinstate access.

Now that its motion to dismiss the case has been denied, the home search giant has issued a response to the federal agency’s antitrust allegations.

The Chicago-area MLS suspended data feeds to the home search giant, claiming that the portal violated its licensing agreement by banning a handful of listings.

In a May 18 motion, the portal says the MLS — in coordination with Compass — has threatened to cut Zillow’s feed and “kneecap” its ability to compete.

In the wake of alleged threats by the Chicago-area MLS to cut off listing feed access, Zillow sued MRED and is now pitching a listing alternative to brokers.

The portal alleges it was coerced into abandoning its listing standards in Chicagoland due to a partnership-driven “monopoly” and “group boycott” in the region.

Rentals and mortgages fueled the 18% gain, with tech as the linchpin. “We are rapidly becoming an AI-native company,” Zillow’s CEO said.

Less than two months after the portals launched competing pre-market listings programs, the search giants have now agreed to collaborate on listing display.