Long time PFRE readers know that we have been talking and complaining about what appears to be illegal behavior by MLSs regarding copyright for a long time.
There is finally some action that may get the attention of MLSs around the US. Last week A class action lawsuit was filed against CoreLogic. See the Complaint here.
Most are not familiar with the name CoreLogic, I wasn’t, but the company claims to have as clients 17 of the 20 top MLS organizations in the US. CoreLogic is the dominant technology and software provider to MLS organizations in the US. I’m trying to get ahold of a complete list of which MLSs and cities use CoreLogic’s Matrix MLS software but I don’t have one yet. Here is a partial list that I was able to piece together just by using Google search: Seattle/King County NWMLS, Orange County CRMLS, Denver CO, Kansas City MO, Austin TX, Dallas and Fort worth TX, White plains NY, Connecticut Statewide MLS and Charlotte NC. There are many more.
The Complaint asserts that:
millions of photographs of real property created by the Class were uploaded using CoreLogic products. Upon uploading, Corelogic falsified, removed and/or altered the copyright management information in those photographs to induce, enable, facilitate or conceal copyright infringement of the photographic works of Plaintiff and the Class. Plaintiff and the Class seek civil remedies under 17 U.S.C. §1203(b), including an injunction, impounding of any device or product involved in a violation of 17 U.S.C. §1202 for remedial modification or destruction, damages, costs and attorney fees.
Joel Rothman of Boca Raton, FL and Darren Quinn of San Diego, CA represent the Plaintiff Robert Steven and the class in this lawsuit. Joel and Darren have agreed to write a post that explains this lawsuit, why it was filed and how it may effect PFRE readers. It is likely that many other real estate photographers in cities around the US where CoreLogic MLS software is used may have experienced damages similar to the current Plaintiff Robert Stevens.
Stay tuned for more on this subject as it develops.
Started out doing photography at the age of 6 using an uncle's old 1940 kodak brownie box camera. At 15 years of age, I decided to buy my very own 1975 Praktica SLR camera. I now shoot with a Nikon D850. I do unpaid TFP and commercial paid work.