As I read your article and interview with attorney David Barry, I became more and more convinced that people who are not in the real estate industry just do not understand the real estate business and how it is a privilege to be a member of a National, State and local Board of Realtors. It is also a voluntary action to belong to a Board of Realtors. A real estate broker or sales agent does not have to be a member. It is not obligatory for real estate licensees to join a Board of Realtors. It's a shame that the general public is not more aware of what the term "Realtor" truly means. It is far more than just having access to the MLS. It differentiates a person who has a real estate license from a person who is a true professional and who has agreed to adhere to a code of ethics. As a broker, I want all of the agents that I sponsor to be members of the Board of Realtors. Not because they are forced to, which they are not, but because they have access to more tools and are more productive and have agreed to conduct themselves in a professional manner. The real estate industry has created a real business that requires licensure and membership in a Board of Realtors to access the MLS. I personally find that the entire Board of Realtors structure, from National to local, is a brilliant business coup that keeps Realtors at the center of the real estate industry. Without the NAR and without strictly controlled access to the MLS, the real estate industry would still be a very dangerous place for the general public to do business, and it would also be a very difficult place for a real estate agent to make an honest living. I hope that the result of David Barry's frivolous lawsuits is that the truth of these matters will come out and the public will realize that there is a tremendous difference between a "Realtor", and a person with a real estate sales license. I guess it will cost someone a lot of money in attorney's fees to figure that out. I can't imagine that a group of individuals who have made their money in the real estate industry would be suing the Board of Realtors. It is a classic case of biting the hand that feeds you and shows a real lack of respect for the real estate industry in general. But this is America, and I suppose that everyone has a right to their opinion and to sue whomever they choose. I'm confident that the Realtors will prevail.