{"id":2330069,"date":"2024-08-23T14:04:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T18:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-files-antitrust-lawsuit-over-rent-prices\/"},"modified":"2024-08-23T14:09:30","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T18:09:30","slug":"doj-files-antitrust-lawsuit-over-rent-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-files-antitrust-lawsuit-over-rent-prices\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ Files Antitrust Lawsuit Over Rent Prices"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-files-antitrust-lawsuit-over-rent-prices%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2330069&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Justice Department \u200dhas filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage \u200bInc., a real estate software company, accusing it of facilitating an \u2062illegal scheme that enables landlords to collaboratively raise rental\u200c prices. This lawsuit,\u200b supported by \u200bvarious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-include-money-for-abortion-providers-in-1-9-trillion-covid-aid-package\/\" title=\"Dems Include Money for Abortion Providers in .9 Trillion COVID Aid Package\">state attorneys general<\/a>, claims that RealPage&#8217;s pricing algorithm allows \u2062landlords to align their rental rates, thus\u2063 undermining competition and driving up rents. The department cited a RealPage executive, who suggested that a unified\u2062 approach among\u2062 landlords is beneficial for the \u2064industry.\u200c Attorney General Merrick \u200bGarland emphasized that Americans should not face increased rent due to such \u2064unlawful coordination. In\u2064 response, RealPage has denied these allegations, asserting that its\u200b software\u2064 promotes a more\u200d efficient rental market and that landlords maintain the autonomy to set their own \u2062rental prices. \u2063This lawsuit is part of broader antitrust enforcement efforts by the Justice Department, which has also targeted other\u200c companies for similar reasons.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section>\n<p>The Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit Friday against real estate software company RealPage Inc., accusing it of an illegal scheme that allows landlords to coordinate to hike rental prices.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit, filed alongside attorneys general in states including North Carolina and California, alleges the company of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ftc-sues-meta-facebook-to-stop-them-from-monopolizing-whatever-the-metaverse-is\/\" title=\"FTC Sues Meta\/Facebook to Stop Them From Monopolizing Whatever the Metaverse Is\">violating antitrust laws<\/a> through its algorithm that landlords use to get recommended rental prices for apartments.<\/p>\n<p>The algorithm allows landlords to align their prices and avoid competition that would keep rents down, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/justice-department-will-investigate-uvalde-police-department\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Justice Department<\/a> officials said. The complaint quotes one RealPage executive as saying &ldquo;there is greater good in everybody succeeding versus essentially trying to compete against one another in a way that actually keeps the entire industry down.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, &ldquo;Americans should not have to pay more in rent because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Attorneys general in several states have separately sued RealPage alleging an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/four-vegas-casinos-face-lawsuit-for-allegedly-fixing-room-prices\/\" title=\"Four Vegas Casinos Face Lawsuit for Allegedly Fixing Room Prices\">illegal price-fixing scheme<\/a> over its algorithmic pricing software.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>In a statement posted on its website in June, RealPage called claims against the company &ldquo;false and misleading,&rdquo; and argued its software actually &ldquo;contributes to a healthier and more efficient rental housing ecosystem.&rdquo; RealPage said landlords decide their own rent prices and are free to reject the recommendations provided by its software.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-biden-doj-accuses-apple-broad-sustained-illegal-course-conduct-antitrust-lawsuit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Justice Department sued Apple<\/a> in March and in May announced a sweeping lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its owner, Live Nation Entertainment. Antitrust enforcers have also opened investigations into the roles Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI have played in the artificial intelligence boom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Justice Department initiated an antitrust lawsuit on Friday against RealPage Inc., a real estate software firm, claiming it has engaged in unlawful practices that enable landlords to collaborate in raising rental prices. This lawsuit, brought forth in conjunction with attorneys general from states such as North Carolina and California, accuses the company of breaching antitrust regulations through its pricing algorithm used by landlords to determine suggested rental rates for apartments. According to officials from the Justice Department, this algorithm facilitates price alignment among landlords and diminishes competition that would otherwise help keep rents lower. The complaint cites a statement from a RealPage executive who remarked that &#8220;there is greater good in everybody succeeding versus essentially trying to compete against one another in a way that actually keeps the entire industry down.&#8221; Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, &#8220;Americans should not have to pay more in rent because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law.&#8221; Additionally, several state attorneys general have filed separate lawsuits against RealPage alleging illegal price-fixing related to its pricing software. In June, RealPage responded on its website by labeling these allegations as &#8220;false and misleading,&#8221; asserting that its software contributes positively to creating a healthier and more efficient rental housing market. The company emphasized that landlords set their own rent prices and can choose whether or not to follow the recommendations made by its software. Earlier this year, the Justice Department also sued Apple in March and announced extensive legal action against Ticketmaster&#8217;s parent company Live Nation Entertainment in May. Furthermore, investigations into Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI regarding their involvement in the artificial intelligence sector are currently underway<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2330070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/5dc83ebd3b7943399c8307af933ba7c7-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5509,7076,39098,4585,39096],"class_list":["post-2330069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-antitrust","tag-doj","tag-housing-market","tag-lawsuit","tag-rent-prices"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/5dc83ebd3b7943399c8307af933ba7c7-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2330069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330069\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2330070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2330069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2330069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2330069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}