At their July 2015 meeting, the MLS Board of Directors modified the MLS Rules to require listings taken as Office Exclusive be entered in the MLS.
Checking "yes" in the Office Exclusive field accommodates compliance with the MLS Rules and ensures only Staff and the listing firm can "see" the listing. Should the seller later lift that requirement, listing brokers should change the "yes" to a "no" in the Office Exclusive field, which then makes the listing viewable to all Participants, as well as included in syndication feeds.
The amended Rule is provided below.
MLS Rules, Section 1.3. Exempt Listings/Office Exclusive. If the seller refuses to permit the listing to be disseminated by the service, the Participant shall take the listing (office exclusive) and such listing shall be filed with the MLS but not disseminated to the Participants. Filing of the listing should be accompanied by certification signed by the seller that he does not desire the listing to be disseminated by the service.