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I am getting sick of the NAR. Not only are they not doing a very good job representing agents to the public, now they are harrassing agents. I just came across the post below on another forum and thought a would share it. I also supplied a 2005 legal write up that many felt prevented them from blocking agents from using the internet in these manners.
http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/images/icons/icon1.gif (broken link) Re: Follow Up to NAR and 'MLS'
I just bought the domain TheBreaMLS.com from Godaddy.
8 hrs went by and I got this
Hi Greg,
I see that you have registered one or more Domain names that are in violation of our Code of Ethics. I have attached a copy of Page 14 of this month’s Realtor® magazine. Please also see Standards of Practice 12-10 and 12-12. More specifically, see Case Interpretation 12-20 in the Arbitration Manual.
Standard of Practice 12-12 says that the mere act of registering is a violation.
Just a heads up before you spend a lot on this site.
Thanks,
http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/images/icons/icon1.gif (broken link) Re: Follow Up to NAR and 'MLS'
Are you freakin serious! - Isn't this harassment?
I see that you have registered one or more Domain names that are in violation of our Code of Ethics. I have attached a copy of Page 14 of this month’s Realtor® magazine. Please also see Standards of Practice 12-10 and 12-12. More specifically, see Case Interpretation 12-20 in the Arbitration Manual.
Standard of Practice 12-12 says that the mere act of registering is a violation.
Just a heads up before you spend a lot on this site.
Thanks,
Art Hammond, Realtor®
615-776-1438
__________________ Webmasters who spend their energies upholding the spirit of the basic principles [Of Google] will provide a much better user experience and subsequently enjoy better ranking than those who spend their time looking for loopholes they can exploit. Google.com
http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/images/icons/icon1.gif (broken link) Re: Follow Up to NAR and 'MLS'
Some people have more time on their hands than brains in their head.
Let's see...maybe he can start calling himself "the caped mls internet crusader."
__________________
http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/images/icons/icon1.gif (broken link) Re: Follow Up to NAR and 'MLS'
I briefly read thru this post, so thought I'd see what Art had to say further. Anyone have a snappy reply for Art?
From: Greg Haraksin
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 5:05 PM
To: Art Hammond
Subject: Re: MLS in URL
I've seen the disclosures needed to make it ok. Thanks though.
My personal experience with several Professional Standards Committees around the country is that they do not take disclaimers into consideration. Case #12-20 was decided solely on the Domain Name.
How is not adhereing to a Code of Ethics that you agreed to when you became a Realtor equate to being harassed?
Standard of Practice 12-12
REALTORS® shall not:
1. use URLs or domain names that present less than a true picture, or
2. register URLs or domain names which, if used, would present less than a true picture. (Adopted 1/08)
By using a domain name that presents yourself as the MLS for an area you are misleading the public into thinking you are actually the MLS for that area.
You don't have to be a REALTOR® to be in the real estate business. If you don't subscribe to their code of ethics you can always terminate your membership.
Keeping things cleaned up is not what they are accomplishing here. The more of this type of crap that goes on the more umph the DOJ is going to have. The more of this anti-competitive activities that the NAR tries to pull the worse all agents look to the public. You can support the trade group but I am done. The agent that purchased the Domain was going to have a disclaimer to assure that he was not performing deceptive practices. Hey CouponJack, feel free to slam the NAR for now on. I won't bother you one bit.
I'm not a realtor, but I can see how such a domain name can be viewed as misleading. I commend NAR for having a code of ethics that addresses this issue. I think the talk about including a disclaimer on the website is irrelevant and the idea that a disclaimer somewhere on the website makes up for the misleading domain name is disingenuous at best.
I'm no NAR cheerleader, but in this case it looks like the right call to me.
Also, if you google MLS, see what you come up with. There is indeed a national website advertising itself as the National MLS search site. If MLS was copyrighted, I would think that NAR would sue that site for infringement.
Yes it is unfortunate that as a Realtor I may not use a domain with the "MLS" all the while a non Realtor, including aggregators can without penalty.
This is most likely not true. My MLS is not a Realtor membership one, but they don't allow the use of MLS as part of our rules.
Even MLS's like mine that allow agents to choose, tend to like to not compete with their members and rules tend to be very similar to the COE. If you have an agent using MLS in a domain, and they are not a realtor, I would see what the MLS rules say.
It's hard to do business without MLS access, Realtor or not.
"10. Among Standards of Conduct for MLS participants, must use true picture and cannot in representations including URLs and domain names used "deceptively use metatags, keywords, or other devices/methods to direct, drive, or divert Internet traffic, or to otherwise mislead consumers";
11. Added specific options for imposing discipline with MLS rules for compliance including attendance at courses, fines, probation, termination, others;
12. Added optional MLS provision allowing prohibition of MLS participants, subscribers, licensees from claiming to be or suggesting that they are an MLS, including in domain name and email address;"
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Code of Ethics ...
