Zillow loses antitrust battle over Chicago real estate listings

A U.S. District Judge in Chicago has dissolved a previous order that required Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) to maintain Zillow Group Inc.’s access to real estate listings in the Chicagoland area. Judge John Tharp Jr. ruled that Zillow failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its allegation of an illegal group boycott between MRED and Compass Inc.

The dispute arose after Zillow attempted to exclude listings from Compass Inc., the largest residential brokerage in the U.S., from its platform. MRED responded by temporarily cutting off Zillow’s access, citing violations of their terms of service. While the ruling is considered a victory for Compass Inc., Judge Tharp noted that Zillow could avoid harm by not enforcing its own listing standards.

Zillow expressed disappointment, stating the decision is “a step back for Chicago home buyers and sellers,” and intends to proceed with the case through arbitration. MRED stated the decision affirms the ability of listing services to enforce data licensing agreements, while Compass Inc. characterized the ruling as a win for consumer choice.