# Wyoming MLSs Push Back on NAR Settlement Data Sharing Without Judicial Safeguards

Wyoming's multiple listing services filed an objection to the National Association of Realtors settlement, requesting that Judge Bough impose stricter controls on how third parties can access MLS data under the agreement's terms.

The Wyoming MLSs want the court to mandate that any outside party seeking access to listing information must submit specific subpoenas rather than simply requesting data. They also seek explicit legal protections for the MLSs themselves when complying with data disclosure orders.

This move reflects broader tension within the real estate industry over the NAR settlement's data-sharing provisions. The settlement, which stems from years of litigation over commission practices and information transparency, requires MLSs to make certain data accessible to third parties. However, local and regional MLSs worry they lack clarity on what obligations they face and what liability protection they receive when turning over member data.

The settlement fundamentally altered how NAR operates. It eliminated compensation rules that real estate brokers and agents had relied on for decades, forced changes to buyer-agent commission structures, and opened pathways for new market entrants to access listing databases. These changes rippled through an industry built on information asymmetry, where agents historically controlled access to property listings.

Wyoming's position reflects concerns shared by MLSs nationwide. They argue that without court-mandated procedural safeguards, they could face endless data requests from competitors, tech platforms, appraisers, investors, and other actors wanting to build databases or launch competing services. The MLSs also worry about privacy and liability issues when handing over sensitive broker and agent information.

Judge Bough oversees implementation of the settlement, which took effect in late 2024. The judge must balance multiple interests: the plaintiffs who sued NAR and won major concessions, the real estate industry players adapting to new rules, and the MLSs caught in the middle of enforcement.

For buyers and sellers, the settlement's data-sharing provisions theoretically increase market transparency and competition. Prospective buyers can shop for homes through multiple platforms without relying solely on agent-controlled MLS websites. Sellers may benefit from greater exposure as new channels access listing data. However, MLSs argue that unrestricted data access could undermine their operational models and create chaos for their members.

For agents and brokers, particularly smaller firms, this remains a destabilizing period. The settlement's commission changes already upended compensation practices. Stricter data access rules could either protect their proprietary information or further erode their market position depending on how the court rules.

The Wyoming MLSs' objection signals that Judge Bough will need to craft detailed procedural rules governing data requests. Without clear protocols, this settlement could spawn years of litigation over what third parties can request, how quickly MLSs must comply, and who bears liability when data breaches occur.

How the judge rules on Wyoming's request will likely influence how other state and regional MLSs approach data sharing moving forward.