NWMLS (North West MLS) Threatens fines to its own realtors

Good Article! You will have a link from my blog soon!

The NWMLS is a second-rate listing service in the first place. Photos are too small compared with other MLS's and cust. service is poor.

"REALTOR" is a registered trademark of the National Association of Realtors and should be capitalized and, if available, the trademark symbol should be used.

Looks like Marlow wants to start something else.

What does the trademark of realtor have to do with this story?

Marlow is from the Seattle area with me and a part of the NWMLS. We had a blogument (Is that a word?) anyhow a blog arguement over real estate commissions. When I asked her if fixing real estate commissions should be legal she replied: "REALTOR is a registered trademark of the National Association of Realtors and should be capitalized and, if available, the trademark symbol should be used." I think she is part of the NAR borg collective. "We are REALTOR prepare to be assimilated." (Sorry non-trekies)

Added the link to my Blog. This article reminded me to do some SEO for the term MLS, thanks.

Sweet thanks

Morgan - Only just read your post on the NWMLS bullies, and what amazes me is how similar the NWMLS Natzis are to our own *cough* CREA.

I agree it's not an optimal rule (there are many rules in life I think are ridiculous), but if the rest of us who belong to the NWMLS have to observed it - everybody should. It's not our fault that someone doesn't know (or obey) the rules.

Posted by Phil Van Eynde, ABR, CRS, Broker Associate: You guys are a stitch! Most of your entries feature misspellings and/or incorrect grammer. These are not the "brainiacs" of the world you are quoting here. That aside, mostly your respondents appear to be a bit angry, or simply misinformed. When a person is a subscriber to a service it is always inappropriate to attempt to characterize ones self as the source of the information gathered and offered by the information provider. It is a bit like quoting a source, or using otherwise published materials, and not using footnotes to properly credit the source of the quotation. In this case, however, the situation is particularly reprehensible in that the motive is the very greed and self enrichment you quote as being the reason for its justified existance. Not only is no credit given to the MLS as the content originator but the person offering the "scam" claims, in the title to his internet offering, the MLS identity that is the name of a culturally empowering organization. This then is not only stealing the content without footnotes but it is rather like identity theft. (an aside: can you just imagine your indignation if another person were to represent himself as you and make claims in your name?) Truth and honesty in advertising is important in our society because it, advertising, is the engine that drives public perception and information dissemination. The initials MLS, when presented together mean, quite literally, MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE. The young identity thief is not PROVIDING the information..... HE IS SIMPLY REGURGITATING THE PLAGARIZED INFORMATION. As you can tell I do not empathize with your posture that the MLS's of the world are beating up the "poor little waif" who is reprenenting himself to be the MLS. If these "poor little waifs" choose to represent themselves as MLS identities, or equivalents, it is a must that they drop out of the MLS they belong to, accumulate the information themselves, package the information for publication on the WEB or elsewhere, identify themselves to the public in a proper manner (even as "Seattle MLS," if legal) and then go make a profit. I highly doubt that this message is one that will make your blog site, but, you do have my permission to publish it.

I have you blog-rolled - here's to taking #1. Are you aware that the Austin Board fines members if we link to our IDX searches w/ the term "MLS" anywhere?

I have been an agent for over 25 years. All the offices in our area belong to the nwmls. I can't hang my license in an office unless I belong or they fine the broker. Seems like a restraint of trade. I am a commercial fisherman and on a boat 5 months a year but they still make me sign up for a year. I don't think it is legal to force me to sign up. Phil

So, let me get this right. A website operator put the phrase "........Seattle MLS' on their site and the NWMLS is a bit ticked off about it? I'm not sure if they should be ticked off, however, I wonder if there is actually a 'Seattle MLS'. I never heard of such a service. Maybe the link should be taken down because its misleading to the public. Exactly what is the Seattle MLS? Seems like the NWMLS has a case (weak), but the person posting that link is obviously trying to take advantage of the MLS acronym when in actuality there is no Seattle MLS. Get over it and go sell a house.

Thinks thats being bulled, now the nwmls has auto fines.  I just recieved on the other day.

Wow...what are the auto fines for? Is this still all about using MLS on a realtors web site. if this refers to Austin how to the members that have an IDX solution provided by MLSFinder.com deal with that scenario. The more this MLS battle goes on the more embarrassing it gets to be part of associations that bullying it's members over a term that is considered to be part of the public domain!