Realtor Bloggers beware of the latest NAR Rule
Here is something that is sure to become a big mess, but all of you licensed realtors and brokers should know this and keep it in mind while you blog and network.
The following text is from the Commentweatlthonline.
Bloggers and Web site owners: NAR's holding you responsibleIf you're a Realtor® blogger, you definitely need to be aware of this new rule. At its midyear meeting, NAR's Board of Directors clarified one Standard of Practice of the Code of Ethics and added another that affects anyone who has a Web site where users or visitors can comment. Simply put, if you control a medium that allows people to add their own content — for example, a blog or MLS that permits comments — and someone posts something about a competitor you know is false or misleading, you now have the duty to either remove it or publish a clarification. Yes, there's a potential can of worms here. That's because U.S. law (specifically Section 230 of Title 47 of the United States Code) protects Internet publishers — that's you — from legal claims because of comments on your site … unless you edit them. (Deleting is OK. Probably.) Clarifications are bound to be coming. If you edit one comment to comply with NAR's rule, might you open yourself up to a libel suit because of another comment that you didn't edit? And where's the burden of proof on what's false or misleading? As one commenter on VARbuzz said, "Say Realtor® A leaves a comment on my blog along the lines of: 'Realtor® B does not know how to complete a purchase contract.' Maybe that's true. If it is true, then saying it isn't false or misleading. Am I the one that now has to vet Realtor® B's ability to complete a contract?" You can bet we'll keep you up to date on this. [Click here to go right to the Code]
Comments (1)
All I have to say about that is WHAAAA?? More ridiculous policies from an organization that clearly seems to exist to serve itself, not its members or their clients. Great article, Justin!
Joshua Dorkin, almost 15 years ago