Zillow faced allegations of threatening litigation over listing access standards, according to testimony from Compass CEO Robert Reffkin and MRED CEO Rebecca Jensen. The testimony emerged during a hearing on Zillow's request for a preliminary injunction related to a policy dispute. Briefs are due July 9 and July 13.
The dispute centers on Zillow's requirement for brokers to provide direct listing feeds to its platform, which MRED, a multiple listing service, resisted. Jensen testified that Zillow threatened to sue MRED if it did not comply with its listing policy standards.
Reffkin, whose firm Compass has its own brokerage platform, testified that Zillow's demands could undermine competition by controlling how listings are distributed. The case highlights ongoing tensions between real estate technology platforms and traditional listing services.
Zillow argued that its policy seeks to ensure accurate and complete listing data for consumers. The company's legal team is expected to respond to the testimony in upcoming briefs. A ruling on the injunction request has not yet been scheduled.
The outcome could reshape how real estate listings are shared across digital platforms, affecting brokers, agents, and homebuyers. Industry observers are watching closely for potential broader implications on listing data access and antitrust concerns.