ABA Journal: Calling for an end to a controversial practice, the Virginia-based company that owns Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS) has announced a change in its rules that apparently would require mortgage loan services to follow longstanding property law principles.

They are no longer to file foreclosure actions in the name of MERS, a subsidiary of Merscorp Inc. of Reston, Va., and are to obtain and record mortgage assignments with county clerks before suing, reports Reuters.