NAR: Ethics rules apply to blog writing


WASHINGTON – June 17, 2009 – Under Article 15 of the National Association of Realtors®’ Realtor Code of Ethics, members have an ethical obligation to avoid making claims or statements about competitors, their businesses and business practices when they know those statements to be false or misleading. This applies to remarks made verbally, in writing or on the Internet.

The rule has been clarified by a new standard of practice directed to blogs, which will be adopted by the NAR’s board of directors. The new standard of practice states, “The obligation to refrain from making false or misleading statements about competitors, competitors’ businesses and competitors’ business practices includes the duty to publish a clarification about, or to remove, statements made by others on electronic media the Realtor controls once the Realtor knows the statement is false or misleading.”

Experts anticipate disputes associated with one part of the standard: “once the Realtor knows the statement is false or misleading.” They point out that agents do not have a duty to investigate claims made by people who comment on their blogs, and Realtors do not really “know” anything based on such comments.

They await Case Interpretations to clarify the new standard.

Source: Realty Times (06/16/09) Hunt, Bob

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