15 U.S.C. § 3 — Trusts in Territories or District of Columbia illegal; combination a felony

submitted 136 years ago by ch. 647 to r/title-15-COMMERCE-AND-TRADE · 274 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

Contracts, combinations, or conspiracies that restrain trade involving a U.S. territory, Washington D.C., a state, or a foreign nation are illegal, and making one is a felony. Monopolizing or trying to monopolize trade in those same areas is also a felony. Either crime can bring a fine up to $100,000,000 for a corporation, up to $1,000,000 for anyone else, and up to 10 years in prison.

(a) Any contract, trust-like combination, or conspiracy that restrains trade or commerce is declared illegal if it involves trade in a U.S. territory or the District of Columbia; between one territory and another; between a territory (or territories) and a state (or states) or the District of Columbia; with a foreign nation; or between the District of Columbia and a state (or states) or a foreign nation. Anyone who makes such a contract, or joins such a combination or conspiracy, commits a felony. On conviction, the punishment is a fine of up to $100,000,000 for a corporation, or up to $1,000,000 for anyone else, or up to 10 years in prison, or both, at the court's discretion. (b) Anyone who monopolizes, tries to monopolize, or joins with others to monopolize any part of trade or commerce in those same places — a territory or the District of Columbia, between territories, between a territory and a state or the District of Columbia, with a foreign nation, or between the District of Columbia and a state or a foreign nation — also commits a felony, with the same possible punishment: a fine of up to $100,000,000 for a corporation, up to $1,000,000 for anyone else, up to 10 years in prison, or both.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(a)

Every contract, combination in form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce in any Territory of the United States or of the District of Columbia, or in restraint of trade or commerce between any such Territory and another, or between any such Territory or Territories and any State or States or the District of Columbia, or with foreign nations, or between the District of Columbia and any State or States or foreign nations, is declared illegal. Every person who shall make any such contract or engage in any such combination or conspiracy, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding $100,000,000 if a corporation, or, if any other person, $1,000,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court.

(b)

Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce in any Territory of the United States or of the District of Columbia, or between any such Territory and another, or between any such Territory or Territories and any State or States or the District of Columbia, or with foreign nations, or between the District of Columbia, and any State or States or foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding $100,000,000 if a corporation, or, if any other person, $1,000,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court.

Source credit: (July 2, 1890, ch. 647, § 3, 26 Stat. 209; July 7, 1955, ch. 281, 69 Stat. 282; Pub. L. 93–528, § 3, Dec. 21, 1974, 88 Stat. 1708; Pub. L. 101–588, § 4(c), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2880; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title IV, § 14102(b), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1921; Pub. L. 108–237, title II, § 215(c), June 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 668.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

1890Enacted · Act of July 2, 1890, ch. 647 · 26 Stat. 209
1955Amended · Act of July 7, 1955, ch. 281 · 69 Stat. 282
1974Amended · Pub. L. 93-528 · 88 Stat. 1708
1990Amended · Pub. L. 101-588 · 104 Stat. 2880
2002Amended · Pub. L. 107-273 · 116 Stat. 1921
2004Amended · Pub. L. 108-237 · 118 Stat. 668

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by ch. 647 on 1890-07-02.

all 0 arguments · sorted by: best

no arguments yet — make the first case