MLS Committe moves to ban "MLS" from realtor sites

[EFS Webmaster]

Just saw this MLS Committee move to ban the use of the term "MLS":

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/...4?OpenDocument

In my opinion this would be one of the greatest disservices ever. The genie is already out of the bottle and the term "MLS" has long been a generic term widely utilized by consumers trying to find a home. Not letting the real estate community (whose goal it is to serve these consumers) is a travesty that wouldn't only seem to harm both the consumer and the agents trying to help them.

[Ryan Ward]

This is the same group of people who believe that they are doing a good thing with REALTOR®.

I am interested in following this and would like some information on where we as agents and brokers can voice our opinions on this matter.

It seems to me that they are worried that the term could become generic....

Duh. It is already generic. Perhaps it would be better to try to protect the interest of all of us by making it generically mean ONLY where brokers list their properties.

That would be a solution that would be helpful. This would prevent folks like zillow and trulia from using it, but, would allow us to use it.

What's so hard about coming up with real world solutions for these people?

[Morristown]

MLS is alreay generic, they are to late on this one.

[EFS Webmaster]

I agree that they are too late on this one however if you take this to heart, it could mean that hard working realtors could get hit with cease and desist letters telling them not to utilize the term MLS on their website or anywhere else.

This would be totally absurd and not customer-serving (either for consumers or real estate agents) however its the reality if this type of stuff gets approval.

[Ryan Ward]

there is no question that this is a big deal and that they do not fully understand what a good solution would be.

Where can we voice our opinions? The local board? I will write a blog article about it later today on REW and AR, but, that is not enough...

[Benjamin Dona]

This is just another example of how individuals with positions of so-called authority and very little practical experience or common sense wreak havoc on people they are supposed to represent for the better.

It just amazes me how participating brokers let NAR and their MLS boards and employees run rough shod over them. While the members hold elected positions in these organizations, they for the most part, just listen to and follow everything the (non-working for a living in real estate) MLS employees have to say. In addition, most of the members who hold these elected positions, at least here in my area, are still living in the stone age. Many think it should be like the good old days when we had to have MLS listing books.

Until members themselves stand up and say enough is enough from these people, it is never going to change. They are supposed to be working for us and should only be there to facilitate all our abilities to work more effectively and serve the public. Not nickel and dime us to death for every new useless notion they come up with or enact stupid rules that tie our hands behind our backs. They have buffaloed us into thinking we can't live without them, when in truth it should be the other way around. They would cease to exist without our participation.

And don't think because MLS can't be patented or copywrited, it means the genie is out of the bottle. All they have to do is adopt the new mls rule and you will have to follow it or be removed from participating. It's just that simple. They can make up any rules they want as long as they can continue to get the members to agree to enact them.

FYI - I can't tell for sure from Friday's NAR Board of Directors meeting notes if this passed or not but my guess is it did. Here is what the meeting notes said about MLS changes passed on Friday:

*Amended the NAR Code of Ethics to ensure the “true picture” test in Article 12 applies to electronic communications such as e-mail and text messages, and added a Standard of Practice to ensure that REALTORS® present a true picture in their URLs and domain names. The Code of Ethics' changes required passage by the Delegate Body, which approved the measure at its meeting Friday following the Board of Directors vote. Related changes to model MLS rules were also adopted.

* In MLS policy changes aimed at upping enforcement, the board authorized REALTOR® MLSs to impose financial penalties of up to $15,000—an increase from $5,000—for violations of MLS rules; authorized REALTOR® MLSs to remove any or all of a participant's listings in cases where the participant fails to report status changes on a timely basis; and adopted measures on the procedures for imposing discipline.

[Bigtoe]

I have 11 lead generating websites with the term mls in the url. They are looking for a fight.

[Ryan Ward]

What does this mean?

* Amended the NAR Code of Ethics to ensure the “true picture” test in Article 12 applies to electronic communications such as e-mail and text messages, and added a Standard of Practice to ensure that REALTORS® present a true picture in their URLs and domain names. The Code of Ethics changes required passage by the Delegate Body, which approved the measure at its meeting following the Board of Directors. Related changes to model MLS rules were also adopted.

I emailed Robert Freedman who wrote the article on NAR's website for an answer or at least a link to more info. I wioll post back on this when and if he responds...

[arenetwork]

* In MLS policy changes aimed at upping enforcement, the board authorized REALTOR® MLSs to impose financial penalties of up to $15,000—an increase from $5,000—for violations of MLS rules; authorized REALTOR® MLSs to remove any or all of a participant's listings in cases where the participant fails to report status changes on a timely basis; and adopted measures on the procedures for imposing discipline.

Hell, the Teamsters are not this tough!!

[SteveTheSultan]

They need to rename it from MLS to BS. The enforcement of this is just crazy. I dont understand the reasoning behind this. "Whats in a name" Do they really think they are giving any benefit? What good does this do?