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Zillow Group, Inc. v. Compass International Holdings, Inc. and MRED LLC
Filed
May 12, 2026
Jurisdiction
Northern District of Illinois
Plaintiff Firm
Keker, Van Nest & Peters
Next Milestone
Defendants' response pending; preliminary injunction hearing anticipated within 30-60 days
Compass and MRED conspired to cut off Zillow's Chicago listing data access unless Zillow abandoned its Listing Access Standards consumer-protection policy; MRED-Compass partnership to expand Private Listing Network nationwide
First major federal antitrust challenge to private listing network data access restrictions. Zillow alleges a per se unlawful group boycott (Sherman Act §1) and monopoly abuse (Sherman Act §2) by MRED, which controls listing data for 43,000+ agents across Chicagoland. Compass cut off 25%+ of current Chicagoland listings from Zillow on May 8, 2026. The MRED-Compass partnership — in which Compass subsidizes 100,000 agent memberships — is designed to expand PLN leverage nationally, with simultaneous MLS outreach in North Carolina, Tennessee, and California. If the injunction is denied, portals that adopt pro-transparency standards could face the same data cutoff threats in multiple markets within weeks.
Zillow Announces Listing Access Standards
April 2025Zillow announces policy requiring all listings displayed on Zillow to be made available to all buyers equally, targeting private listing networks
Compass CEO Urges MLS Boycott
April 2025Compass CEO Robert Reffkin messages at least 8 regional MLSs urging them to cut off Zillow's IDX and VOW data feeds unless Zillow repeals its Listing Access Standards
MRED-Compass Partnership Announced
April 2026MRED and Compass announce partnership: Compass subsidizes 100,000 agent memberships; MRED agrees to expand Private Listing Network nationwide
MRED Threatens Zillow Data Cutoff
May 6, 2026MRED's technology distributor (whose board chair is MRED CEO Rebecca Jensen) threatens to terminate Zillow's listing feed unless Zillow reinstates Compass private listings nationally
Compass Cuts Zillow Listing Feed
May 8, 2026Compass terminates all direct listing feeds to Zillow, removing 25%+ of current Chicagoland listings from the portal
Zillow Files Suit
May 12, 2026Zillow files federal antitrust complaint in N.D. Illinois alleging Sherman Act §1 group boycott and §2 monopoly abuse; seeks injunction, treble damages, and attorneys' fees
Category
NAR Commission AntitrustConspiracy to inflate buyer-agent commissions nationwide
Category
NAR Commission AntitrustSettlement
$75M+ (Anywhere $9.6M + Real/Keyes/Illustrated/Vanguard $1.2M + Hanna $8.25M + NAR $52.25M + Douglas Elliman, The Agency, Realty ONE Group, Compass, United Real Estate — amounts TBD for last five)
Homebuyer commission antitrust claims against multiple brokerages; opt-in mechanism allows defendants in related cases to settle via Tuccori. Full opt-in list (12 defendants): Anywhere Real Estate ($9.6M), Real Brokerage, The Keyes Company, Illustrated Properties, Vanguard Properties (combined $1.2M), Hanna Holdings ($8.25M), NAR ($52.25M — largest single opt-in, covering all NAR members/MLSs), Douglas Elliman, The Agency, Realty ONE Group, Compass, United Real Estate, HomeServices of America (amounts TBD for last six). Batton plaintiffs' emergency injunction to block NAR's settlement was DENIED by Judge Hunt on April 29, 2026. Tuccori plaintiffs must move for approval of all opt-in settlors by May 18, 2026.
Category
NAR Commission AntitrustCompass allegedly conspired with NAR and other brokerages to inflate buyer-agent commissions, harming homebuyers who purchased homes using Compass-affiliated agents
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