24 Jul 08 
NAR Trying to Destroy Patent Holder?
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According to Robert Freedman – reportedly one of the most successful real estate agents in the United States and NAR member – the National Association of Realtors has spent millions of dollars, from member’s dues, fighting allegations that they have unlawfully used a patented mapping method for locating real estate online.
Real Estate Alliance Ltd. (REAL) – owner of the patent, and Mark Tornetta – inventor of the patent, have recently settled patent infringement claims against Freedman, who is one of 35 defendants that includes the NAR, in a lawsuit brought by REAL in Los Angeles federal court earlier in the year. REAL claims that the NAR’s official website – Realtor.com, used the patented zooming-mapping methods without their permission.
In an open letter to the members of the NAR, Freedman has implied that the NAR has made a serious mistake and that the million plus real estate agents that are members of the NAR have been disserved. According to Freedman, when the NAR set up Realtor.com with HomeStore, in the late 1990s, the NAR intentionally disregarded the patents and simply used the technology without permission.
Freedman claims that because his listings, along with the majority of members’ listings, found their way to Realtor.com by way of their MLS is why he has been named in the lawsuit. “That is why I was sued by the patent holder. I was sued individually and as a representative of a claimed class of all agents who have used the zooming methodology,” said Freedman.
Freedman chose to pay the patent holder a measure of compensation for his use of the technologies over the past several years. Freedman stated, “I am disappointed that NAR would use my listings in ways that were potentially infringing on someone’s patents without at least letting its members know that there was a possible issue looming that could cause its members harm.”
Freedman is demanding reimbursement from the NAR for the amount that he has settled with Tornetta and REAL. In his letter to NAR members, Freedman urges the NAR to pay what they rightfully owe and to cease their attempts at destroying the inventor by trying to “spend him to death”.
Freedman’s letter along with the official patent documents and legal complaints can be viewed at www.real989.com.
Tags: homestore, los angeles, mark tornetta, NAR, national association of realtors, real, real estate agents, real estate alliance ltd., real989.com, realtor.com, robert freedman, zooming mapping technology
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Wow I had not heard of this story. This technology comes out so fast it’s sometimes hard to realize who came out with it so fast. That is a useful feature these days.