A new MLS ‘constitution?’ Hive MLS CEO Daniel Jones makes his case

At a defining moment for the multiple listing service (MLS), Hive MLS CEO Daniel Jones authored a new Declaration of MLS Stewardship Principles — a proposed “MLS constitution” designed to establish a common foundation for what an MLS is, what it protects and what it’s responsible for as the real estate marketplace changes.The declaration arrives as MLS leaders confront fundamental questions involving private listing strategies, cooperation, public marketing, data ownership and licensing, artificial intelligence (AI), consolidation and the evolving role of the MLS itself.Jones sat down with HousingWire to discuss the distinction between stewarding the marketplace and owning it, how MLSs should balance cooperation with broker business models, the boundary between the cooperative marketplace and public marketing and what parts of today’s MLS model must remain unchanged. Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Jonathan Delozier: The declaration makes the distinction that the MLS does not own the marketplace, it stewards it. What does that distinction mean in practical terms for Realtors — and where should the MLS draw the line between protecting cooperatio...