When CoStar filed a lawsuit against Zillow, alleging the unauthorized use of more than 46,000 proprietary images, the implications sent a ripple through the real estate and data-tech industries. The claim doesn’t just point to misuse for property listings. It goes deeper, accusing Zillow of using these images to support internal products like the Zestimate valuation model. [source]
This isn’t a content licensing dispute. This is about data integrity at scale. And platforms like Redfin and Realtor.com are already on alert, warned to remove disputed content or risk legal consequences of their own.
This is the scenario. But it’s not just about Zillow.
If your business relies on property content—photos, site data, documentation—and you can’t prove where it came from or how it was sourced, you are exposed. This includes platforms operating in residential and commercial real estate, lending, facilities, and insurance.
And the solution isn’t a better database. It’s a better sourcing model.
Why Real-Time, Verified Field Data Is the Only Way Forward
At ProxyPics, we built our platform to eliminate gray areas in content sourcing.
We don’t rely on third-party libraries. We don’t scrape MLS data. We assign every order in real time to a verified data collector, who physically visits the location and captures the content according to your exact scope of work.
Here’s how we protect data validity on every order:
Geo-tagging and time stamping
Every image is embedded with metadata that includes the GPS coordinates and exact timestamp of capture. This ensures that the content was taken at the correct location and within the required timeframe.
Tiered data collector model
Our panel includes general proxies for exteriors, trained proxies for more complex scopes, and licensed professionals for interiors and specialized assignments. Tasks are matched based on order type, not just availability. This prevents mismatched qualifications and preserves consistency.
AI-supported quality control
After content is submitted, our internal system runs automated checks to flag missing angles, duplicates, or image issues like blurriness or incorrect framing. These checks are followed by human QC reviewers who compare the submission against the required scope.
Chain of custody
We track the full lifecycle of every order, including when it was assigned, accepted, started, and submitted. This creates a digital audit trail that can be accessed by clients for verification and compliance.Client-defined scope and repeatability
According to industry standards cited by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), photos used in valuation and servicing decisions must be tied to a verifiable date, source, and purpose. Our workflows are custom-built to meet these standards and repeat them at scale.
This isn’t just about delivering photos. It’s about delivering trusted data.
The Risk of Cutting Corners
In a rush to keep platforms filled and products functioning, too many companies lean on outdated sourcing methods. They rely on historical content, third-party providers without clear ownership rights, or automated pulls from outdated feeds.
When platforms monetize that data, whether through AVMs, investment decisions, or public-facing interfaces, it becomes more than a backend oversight. It becomes a legal and reputational liability.
As this lawsuit proves, it only takes one audit, one subpoena, or one news cycle to change the narrative.
Your Brand Is Only as Strong as the Data Behind It
ProxyPics exists to solve this exact problem. You don’t have to compromise on speed to get accuracy. And you don’t have to risk compliance to scale your content operations.
We’ve already helped lenders, appraisers, facility managers, and commercial platforms move away from unreliable sourcing toward verified, high-integrity field data.
If you don’t know exactly where your data came from, neither will your regulator.
Let’s fix that.
Want to test a sample order? We’ll show you what real-time, auditable data looks like in action.
