CoStar, Realtor.com Resolve Trade Secrets Lawsuit

Move Inc., the owner of Realtor.com, has officially dismissed its trade secrets lawsuit against CoStar Group, concluding a contentious legal battle that began in July 2024. The lawsuit alleged that former employee James Kaminsky misappropriated confidential information to aid CoStar in launching its Homes.com platform. However, CoStar successfully argued that these claims were baseless, prompting Move to settle with Kaminsky and ultimately drop the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Realtor.com maintained that it acted to protect its intellectual property after Kaminsky accessed sensitive documents post-termination, but felt the risk had diminished after his departure from CoStar. The court had previously urged both parties to seek a resolution outside of court, which they ultimately achieved. The case highlights ongoing tensions in the competitive real estate market, particularly between the two companies in the digital listings space.