Jan. 31, 2006

U.S. Court Rules MLS Membership not Anticompetitive

According to OAR (the Ohio Association of REALTORS®) "A decision that reaffirms the integrity of REALTOR-owned and operated multiple listing services, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky dismissed an antitrust lawsuit brought by a real estate brokerage and its principal broker in northern Kentucky against the Northern Kentucky Association of REALTORS and its subsidiary, the Northern Kentucky Multiple Listing Service.  The plaintiffs also failed to show foreclosure in the market for the tied product, because the brokerage failed to demonstrate that other associations compete in the same product market as the REALTOR association. The plaintiffs also failed to show the membership rule constituted an unlawful group boycott, because belonging to a REALTOR®  association doesn't have an anticompetitive effect in the market for real estate association services."

We have some business models in Columbus who whine about the market not being competitive ... in fact Columbus Ohio is known in the real estate world for having one whiney business model... many outside Columbus think the whiners are the movers and shakers in our market because they whine so loud nationally.  I'm sure they do a wonderful job for their clients and are wonderful people....  just whiney

To read the complete decision -NAR website

To read about a similar decision, in Wisconsin - NAR website

Copyright © 2006 Maureen McCabe