Compass vs. MLSs: Lawsuit Tracker (NWMLS, Zillow, CRMLS, ARMLS & More)
Compass, the national real estate brokerage, has been in a series of legal disputes over rules that require listings to be shared through the MLS or limit how privately marketed listings are displayed. This page tracks the cases and their status. All claims are allegations by the parties unless a court has ruled.
Status as of the "Updated" date above. Court filings and party statements are cited; MLS Daily News is not a party to and takes no position on any of these cases.
At a glance
| Case | Court | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compass v. Northwest MLS | W.D. Wash., No. 2:25-cv-00766 | Apr. 2025 | Dismissed with prejudice by stipulation, Sept. 1, 2026[1] |
| Compass v. Zillow (Listing Access Standards) | S.D.N.Y., No. 1:25-cv-05201 | June 2025 | Voluntarily dismissed by Compass without prejudice, Mar. 18, 2026[3] |
| CRMLS v. Compass (declaratory judgment) | S.D.N.Y. | Oct. 2026 | Pending; OneKey MLS joined as a plaintiff[4][6] |
| Compass v. CRMLS (antitrust) | Federal court | Oct. 2026 | Pending[10] |
| ARMLS et al. v. Compass (declaratory judgment) | S.D.N.Y. | Oct. 21, 2026 | Pending[5] |
Compass v. Northwest MLS
Compass sued Northwest MLS (NWMLS) in the Western District of Washington in April 2025, challenging NWMLS listing rules. The case was dismissed with prejudice under a stipulation of the parties on September 1, 2026.[1] On August 31, 2026, NWMLS announced expanded listing options, including a "First Look" status starting September 4, 2026, that allows up to 21 days of public marketing while the listing is submitted to NWMLS and accessible to its brokers.[2]
Compass v. Zillow
In June 2025 Compass sued Zillow in the Southern District of New York over Zillow's Listing Access Standards, which limit the display on Zillow of listings that were publicly marketed elsewhere before reaching the MLS. Compass filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice on March 18, 2026.[3] Compass said it dropped the suit after Zillow changed its policy toward Compass and Redfin listings;[8] Zillow said its Listing Access Standards remain in effect.[9]
CRMLS v. Compass and Compass v. CRMLS
California Regional MLS (CRMLS) said it filed a complaint in October 2026 asking a federal court in New York for a declaratory judgment that its rules are lawful, after Compass demanded rule changes.[4] Compass later filed its own antitrust suit against CRMLS over listing rules[10] (our summary). OneKey MLS, which serves the New York metro area, joined CRMLS's suit as a plaintiff in late October 2026.[6]
ARMLS et al. v. Compass
On October 21, 2026, Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS), BridgeMLS, Canopy MLS, Doorify MLS, Hive MLS and REcolorado filed a joint complaint against Compass in the Southern District of New York, asking the court to declare their cooperation rules lawful under federal and state antitrust law and to bar Compass from suing over those policies. Real Estate News reported the plaintiffs represent more than 120,000 real estate professionals, and that the suit followed demand letters Compass sent to MLSs in September 2026.[5] Compass has said MLS rules are anticompetitive.[5]
Other MLS responses
- Unlock MLS (Austin) rejected Compass's demands.
- OneKey MLS rejected a Compass demand on public listings.
- The Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) is forming a $1 million-plus legal action fund.
Background reading: Inman's overview of how the fight became a coordinated legal battle[7], our Clear Cooperation explainer, and the live Compass vs. the MLSs feed.
Sources
- Order granting stipulated dismissal with prejudice, Compass Inc. v. Northwest Multiple Listing Service, No. 2:25-cv-00766 (W.D. Wash.), Dkt. 127 — Justia Dockets
- Northwest MLS expands listing options — Northwest MLS, Aug. 31, 2026
- Notice of voluntary dismissal, Compass v. Zillow, No. 1:25-cv-05201 (S.D.N.Y.), Dkt. 191, filed Mar. 18, 2026 — CourtListener (RECAP)
- CRMLS Seeks Declaratory Judgment, Files Complaint Against Compass, Inc. — CRMLS, Oct. 2026
- ARMLS, 5 other MLSs sue Compass over pressure campaign — Real Estate News, Oct. 22, 2026
- OneKey Joins CRMLS's Lawsuit Against Compass — RISMedia, Oct. 27, 2026
- How Compass' fight with MLSs became a coordinated legal battle — Inman, Oct. 23, 2026
- Compass to Dismiss Lawsuit Following Zillow Ban Reversal — Compass, Mar. 2026
- Compass abandons lawsuit, affirming Zillow's pro-consumer listing standards — Zillow, Mar. 2026
- Compass sues CRMLS over listing policies — The Real Deal, Oct. 16, 2026
This guide is original MLS Daily News reporting based on the sources above. It is general information, not legal advice. Found an error? See our corrections policy.
