For your convenience, we have highlighted the most common IDX compliance issues below that tend to be identified during website display audits and copied some key language from the IDX contract.
IDX data may only be displayed on a PrimeMLS member's site and branded as such, with no co-branding.
Any participant Internet Electronic Display Site(s) used for display of the IDX Database or any portion thereof must be under the Actual and Apparent Control of the IDX Participant and be advertised as that IDXP's Internet Site.
This is an important limitation on third party Consultants' building Sites for IDXPs. In order to participate in Internet Data Exchange, a Site must be advertised, marketed, and branded as the IDXP's Site.
"Actual Control" means that the IDX Participant has either built the Participant Internet Electronic Display Site(s) for his/her own use with internal resources or obtained technology for the Site under an agreement with a third-party Consultant that provides the IDX Participant final control over the operations of the Site. The identity of the registered owner of the URL in which the publication of IDX is being displayed can be given consideration in determining if the Site is actually controlled by the IDX Participant.
"Apparent Control" means that a reasonable consumer viewing the Participant Internet Electronic Display Site(s) would conclude that it is under the control of the IDX Participant. When examining the issue of Apparent Control some (but not all) factors that will be considered include: that the IDX Participant's branding is significantly more prominent than, and above that, of any other entity, that the Site is not co-branded, and that the domain name and overall branding on the Site distinguishes the IDX Participant from non-participating firms or franchisors, or other third parties. Advertising (including co-branding) on pages displaying an IDX-provided listing is prohibited.
Attribution must be given to the listing agent, listing office, and selling office.
The following rule has been incorporated into PrimeMLS's Internet Data Exchange Package and adherence is required to conform to IDX policy:
- The listing office must be identified on any listing.
- The listing agent must be identified on any active or active with contract listing.
- The listing broker's attribution must be identified on any listing.
- The selling office must be identified on any closed listing.
The above required information must appear on the first page on which any listing data is displayed (other than an index page). The names must be in a readily visible color and the typeface/font may not be smaller than the typical typeface/font being used in the display of the listing data.
A viewer should not have to scroll vertically or horizontally in order to see the above required attribution when the listing is viewed on a common desktop computer screen.
No modifying of IDX data.
IDX Participants are strictly prohibited from modifying the data in the DIX Database from another IDX Participant. This could include displaying other data alongside another IDXP's data.
For example: if an IDXP geocodes the listings on his/her Site, and then ties demographic or other data to them, the IDXP will want to be cautious about displaying such data on the same screen as another IDXP's listings. An IDX Participant should make efforts to distinguish the data he/she has supplied from the IDX Database data. Segregating such data "geographically" on the screen and including a credit in the non-IDX data (such as "Demographic data courtesy of ABC Title Company") would be a good way to accomplish this.
PrimeMLS's disclaimer and logo must be used.
On each and every page of an IDX Participant's Internet Electronic Display Site(s) on which PrimeMLS data is displayed (other than a page displaying thumbnails or index of listings), the following PrimeMLS copyright notice must appear and the IDX Participant must display the notice on any detailed listing data of another IDXP.
This notice must appear exactly:
"Copyright (insert current year) PrimeMLS. All rights reserved. This information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. The data relating to real estate displayed on this Site comes in part from the IDX Program of PrimeMLS. The information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data last updated (insert date MM/DD/YY).
Along with the above notice, an official PrimeMLS logo must be inserted near the notice. That logo is available here.