Am I missing something here?

Realtor.com is a national real estate website that obtains all most of their information from the local Multiple Listing Service.  Our Long Island Board of Realtors has a great site  MLSLI.com.   On the MLSLI.com, a consumer can get all information regarding homes that are up for sale as well as open house information.  I do like this site because I think it is very user friendly and well organized. This site caters to the consumers.  But the issue at hand is about Realtor.com.  Which has affliation with the NAR.  But are they helping the consumers and are they misleading you? 

Advertising is a main factor in selling a home.  When you list a home on multiple listing - and the agent is a member of MLS, then the home gets automatically uploaded into the Realtor.com.  I actually do think that this is a good thing.  More places that your home gets placed, the better.  But the question was brought up that this could be an infringement of copyright.  Which personally, this confuses me.  How could it be? That is what you call broker reciprocity.  Our office signed an agreement with the Multiple Listing Service stating that our listings will be IDX feed and used by other real estate offices as well as other real estate's listing are being feed into our database**.  Its a simple case of you give - I give.   I would think that as a member of the multiple listing service you could opt out of this - but I am not sure why you would? 

I know that in some areas outside of New York, the Multiple listing service is pulling their agreement with Realtor.com.  You can read Marlow Harris' article NWMLS to pull feed to Realtor.com .   What I gather from Marlow's article is that this talk of NWMLS.com pulling thier feed from Realtor.com is just that - talk and this is still open for negoiation.  Meaning, Realtor.com is a for-profit company - maybe NWMLS wants to take part into the profit..?

I don't think that pulling the IDX from Realtor.com is a good thing.  I know I would be upset if this was happening here in NY. If I was a home seller I would want my listing to be advertised anywhere and everywhere a buyer is looking (and buyers are looking on Realtor.com)   Wouldn't you?

So really is the question about NWMLS wanting a piece of the "profit" from Realtor.com or is it a copy  right infringement and they want to protect the agents that are members?  If it is the latter - then why did it take so long for someone to suggest this? 

**This does not mean that other real estates can advertise another Realtors listing - it means that you agree that your listings can and will be generally pulled into other Realtors websites - with courtesy given to the actual listing agent.

Other related Articles:

Realtor.com takes a step closer to Trulia - by Seattle’s Rain City Real Estate Guide.

Realtor.com to Lose More Listings? - by  BlueRoof.com Blog