{"id":1621,"slug":"rule-treat-mls-data-access-as-contract-not-login","title":"Rule: treat MLS data access as a contract (DLA / AUA / VOW Terms / IDX policy), not just a login","kind":"rule","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","candid-team"],"topics":["real-estate-mls","mls-data-licensing"],"reference_body":"**Rule.** Every MLS-data ingress path — IDX, VOW, back-office feed, RESO Web API, CREA DDF — is governed by a contract (DLA, AUA, VOW Terms of Use, IDX policy) on top of the trademark+By-Law layer. Frame the architecture against those contracts, not against the URL or login screen.\n\n**Why.** [[reso-provides-no-data-only-standards]] — RESO compliance implies nothing about data access; the local MLS DLA controls. [[crea-ddf-2012-channels-consumer-grade]] — DDF carries consumer-grade only. [[vow-password-protected-historical-sold-deeper-layer]] + [[avp-derivative-rights-scoped-to-vow]] — VOW + AVP rights are contractual scopes.\n\n**How to apply.** When writing about MLS data, date-stamp the rule version cited (e.g., \"PropTx MLS Rules effective Dec 2 2024 — [[proptx-mls-rules-effective-dec-2-2024]]\"). When prototyping, ask \"what feed tier am I in and what does its DLA/AUA actually say?\" before assuming the data is available for the use.","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":"reso-provides-no-data-only-standards","title":"RESO provides NO data — only standards; data requests go to local MLSs","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"crea-ddf-2012-channels-consumer-grade","title":"CREA Data Distribution Facility (DDF®) — created 2012, opt-in via REALTOR Link®; multiple channels; feeds are consumer-grade (REALTOR.ca-level), NOT the deep layer","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"vow-password-protected-historical-sold-deeper-layer","title":"VOW (Virtual Office Website) — password-protected, requires established broker-consumer relationship, carries the deeper historical/sold/off-market layer","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"proptx-mls-rules-effective-dec-2-2024","title":"PropTx MLS Rules — operative version effective Dec 2 2024 (primary PDF)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"avp-derivative-rights-scoped-to-vow","title":"AVP (Affiliated VOW Partner) — rights are *derivative* of the member's and scoped to operating that member's VOW (PropTx Rules Art. 8; NAR VOW; CVR MLS)","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":"2026-06-21T10:51:32.857Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T10:51:32.857Z"}