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high-stakes battle is unfolding in the real estate market, with Compass suing Zillow for allegedly violating antitrust laws and maintaining a monopoly over digital home listings. The lawsuit claims that Zillow's updated Listing Access Standards policy, introduced in May 2025, amounts to "gatekeeping" and unfairly blocks competitors from accessing listings on its platforms. According to the suit, Zillow will begin blocking non-compliant listings on June 30th, 2025, including those not entered into a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or made available via other channels within one business day of being marketed.

    Compass argues that these standards are exclusionary and designed to protect Zillow's market dominance. However, some experts point out that the guidelines align with industry requirements, such as the National Association of Realtors' rule that new homes must be listed in the MLS feed within 24 hours of advertising. Additionally, Compass has faced similar accusations of withholding listings in the past.

    The lawsuit is not just about antitrust laws; it's also a power play to level the playing field for competitors and gain an advantage over Zillow. With 227 million unique users per month and 160 million properties listed on its platforms, Zillow is a dominant force in the digital listings market. Only time will tell who comes out on top in this high-stakes battle.