{"id":1627,"slug":"rule-no-mls-realtor-trademarks-adjective-only","title":"Rule: do not use MLS® / REALTOR® / Multiple Listing Service® marks as nouns; adjective-only (\"MLS® System\"); never in business / domain / meta-tag","kind":"rule","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","candid-team"],"topics":["mls-data-licensing"],"reference_body":"**Rule.** Do not use MLS®, REALTOR®, or Multiple Listing Service® in product branding, business names, domain names, or meta-tags. Adjective-only use (\"MLS® System\") is the only safe form. No product may imply endorsement by CREA or any board.\n\n**Why.** [[crea-mls-realtor-trademarks-three-pillars]] — CREA owns the marks; By-Laws require adjective-only use.\n\n**How to apply.** Brand any MLS-adjacent product without those marks. Use generic terms (\"listing data,\" \"real-estate data,\" \"multiple-listing data\") in marketing. The shorthand \"the MLS data\" in casual conversation is fine — in published marketing copy it is a trademark problem.","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"research-brief-mls-data-inside-the-box-ontario-june-2026","title":"Research notes (capture-layer): inside the MLS box — what an Ontario member agent's account exposes, what goes unused, and what they're licensed to do with it (June 2026)","kind":"research-notes","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"crea-mls-realtor-trademarks-three-pillars","title":"CREA — owns MLS®/REALTOR®/Multiple Listing Service® registered trademarks; licences member boards; runs REALTOR.ca + DDF; sets national By-Laws, Rules, REALTOR® Code, Three Pillars of the MLS® Mark","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-mls-data-inside-the-box-ontario-june-2026","title":"Research notes (capture-layer): inside the MLS box — what an Ontario member agent's account exposes, what goes unused, and what they're licensed to do with it (June 2026)","kind":"research-notes","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-21T10:51:32.883Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T10:51:32.883Z"}