Zillow Group and several listing companies settle lawsuit with ShowingTime

Zillow Group, the Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Wisconsin’s Metro Multiple Listing Service, and MLS Aligned have reached a settlement in a lawsuit involving Zillow’s product ShowingTime. The agreement is in principle and will result in the dismissal of claims, once finalized. Zillow had filed a lawsuit in December alleging that removing ShowingTime and replacing it with Aligned Showings created a monopoly in those regions. Zillow claimed that MLS Aligned conspired to remove ShowingTime integration, even though Zillow offered it for free in those markets.

Zillow Group’s Chief Industry Development Officer Errol Samuelson stated that they tried to convince ARMLS and Metro MLS to keep the seamless ShowingTime integration but were declined. Attorneys for the two MLSs argued that adding a new management platform, Aligned Showings, actually increased competition in the market. The agreement between the parties is substantially complete and is expected to be finalized in about a month. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed in the court filing.

This settlement between Zillow Group and the three MLS organizations brings an end to the legal battle over ShowingTime. Zillow’s lawsuit in December accused MLS Aligned of unfairly removing ShowingTime integration in favor of the Aligned Showings platform. The allegations of creating a monopoly in the regions where ShowingTime was being replaced were contested by the defendants. The agreement in principle signals a resolution is on the horizon.

The court document indicated that the settlement agreement is almost complete, with finalization expected in the near future. Both Zillow and ARMLS declined to provide further details as the settlement process is still underway. The lawsuit highlighted the competitive landscape in the real estate market, with Zillow trying to maintain its ShowingTime integration in the face of claims of anti-competitive behavior by MLS Aligned. The final terms of the settlement will shed light on how the parties have chosen to resolve the dispute.

The legal dispute between Zillow Group and the three MLS organizations exemplifies the complexities of competition in the real estate technology industry. The lawsuit, filed in December, raised concerns about potential anti-competitive practices and monopolistic behavior in the market. The settlement now offers a path forward for resolving these issues and ensuring fair competition in the real estate technology sector.

In conclusion, the settlement between Zillow Group and the MLS organizations represents a step towards resolving the legal dispute over ShowingTime. The agreement in principle brings an end to the accusations of anti-competitive behavior and monopoly creation in the real estate technology market. As the final terms of the settlement are awaited, the outcome of this case will have implications for the future of competition in the real estate technology industry. Stay tuned for further developments as the settlement is finalized and implemented.