Top Three Legal Issues Facing Brokers
There are several legal issues that affect real estate companies today: website accessibility, copyright infringement and cyber fraud. During the 2017 REALTOR® Broker Summit in San Diego in February, National Association of Realtors General Counsel Katie Johnson summarized how brokers can mitigate these risks.
ADA Website Accessibility
The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that physical places of public accommodation provide access to all people with disabilities. Some experts believe that these accommodations will eventually be broadened to include online accessibility standards.
Johnson recommends that businesses post accessibility notices on their websites that let users know the company is striving to become compliant or already is.
Copyright Infringement
VHT, Inc., a nationwide photography services company, recently took Zillow to court for copyright infringement and won a judgement for $8.3 million for violations. Agencies should make sure that they have ownership or unrestricted permission for the use of all of their listing and marketing photos.
Cyber Fraud
Real estate companies are at particular risk of becoming victims of cyber fraud with hackers stealing email passwords and then sending bogus messages to clients asking them to wire funds. Companies should take care when asking clients to wire funds and avoid using email to send them instructions.
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Top Three Legal Issues Facing Brokers
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