Core Viewpoint - RealPage has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice to cease sharing nonpublic information among landlords, addressing concerns of illegal "algorithmic collusion" that could inflate rental prices [1][3]. Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement prohibits RealPage from using real-time data for price recommendations, allowing only nonpublic data that is at least one year old for algorithm training [3]. - RealPage will not pay damages or admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which still requires judicial approval [1][3]. Group 2: Impact on the Market - The settlement is expected to enhance competition in local housing markets, leading to rents being determined by market forces rather than algorithms [4]. - Critics argue that RealPage's software has enabled landlords to charge higher rents by leveraging confidential data [2]. Group 3: Legal Context and Reactions - The DOJ's antitrust lawsuit against RealPage was initiated during the Biden administration and involved multiple states, including California and New York, which have enacted laws to regulate rent-setting software [6]. - RealPage's attorney stated that the software's historical use of aggregated and anonymized data has contributed to lower rents and increased competition [5].

Core Viewpoint - The Justice Department has settled its case against RealPage, addressing allegations of algorithmic collusion among landlords to inflate rents, which is expected to restore competition in rental markets for millions of American renters [1][2][4]. Summary by Sections Settlement Details - The settlement requires RealPage to cease using "nonpublic, competitively sensitive information" from landlords for rent pricing and to only use data that is at least 12 months old [2][6]. - RealPage must stop soliciting sensitive rental market information through surveys and discussing nonpublic market trends in meetings [8]. - The agreement mandates court approval before implementation [3]. Impact on the Rental Market - The DOJ stated that the settlement would help restore free market competition in rental markets, emphasizing the need for independent pricing decisions among competing companies [2]. - The lawsuit alleged that RealPage's software enabled landlords to prioritize profits over occupancy, exacerbating housing supply issues and increasing costs for renters [4][5]. Legal Context - The lawsuit was initially filed by the DOJ alongside eight states, accusing RealPage of operating an illegal monopoly in property management software for multi-family housing [9]. - The case marked a significant move by the DOJ against algorithmic collusion, highlighting concerns as industries increasingly rely on software [12]. Cooperation and Future Actions - As part of the settlement, RealPage agreed to cooperate with the DOJ in ongoing lawsuits against other landlord defendants [11][12]. - The DOJ previously reached settlements with some of the co-defendants, while proceedings against others are still pending [11].