‘Mutually assured destruction’: Brokers warn of fallout from Compass’s MLS demands

Over the past three weeks, three MLSs have publicly come forward to reject Compass International Holdings’ demands that they stop enforcing rules that penalize brokers or agents for publicly marketing listings before submitting them to the MLS.In demand letters sent to MLSs across the country in early September, Compass argued that enforcing these policies violates antitrust laws. The national brokerage conglomerate also threatened that it would file federal antitrust lawsuits against any MLS that continued enforcing these policies, claiming that they unlawfully restrict competition and prevent home sellers from marketing their homes how they choose. So far, California Regional MLS (CRMLS), Austin’s Unlock MLS and New York state’s OneKey MLS have publicly rejected these demands, which has already resulted in CRMLS facing an antitrust suit from Compass. In recent days, however, more brokers, many of whom are participants in MLSs that may soon be facing litigation from Compass, have also begun pushing back against the demands Compass is making. “MLSs aren’t perfect, but that doesn’t give one company license to tell everyone else what’s best for them. I see no upside if Compass is suc...