Antitrust Legislation

By juliewhalen

  • Sherman Act*

    regulates competitions between enterprises, regulates the power that interferes with trade and economic competition (outlaws attempts at monopoly)

  • The Federal Trade Commissions Act*

    bans unfair methods of competition, and unfair or deceptive practices (all violations of the Sherman act also violate the FTC Act)

  • The Clayton Act*

    bans practices of price discriminations, strengthened the Sherman Act, declares strikes, boycotts and labor unions legal under federal law

  • Robinson-Patman Act

    prohibits price discrimination (amendment to the Clayton act)

  • Celler-Kefauver Act

    (amendment to Clayton Act) prevents certain mergers from creating monopoly and reducing competition in the U.S.

  • U.S. V Borden Co. (Clayton Act)

    The FTC charged Borden Co (dairy company) for conspiracy to monopolize the sale of milk in the Chicago area and price discrimination. The court dismissed the case because not enough evidence was presented to show a violation of the Sherman act, but there was evidence of price discrimination. However the charge was appealed because the price difference was justified. (start and end in 1954)

  • FTC V Consolidated Foods (Clayton Act)

    Claims were made that Consolidated Foods lessened competitions by reciprocal buying. The FTC's claims were dismissed by the court of appeals because they found no violations of the Clayton Act (started March 1965-ended April 1965)

  • U.S. V AT&T (Sherman Act)

    Department of Justice (DOJ) claimed AT&T had monopoly over American telecommunication. The DOJ prosecuted the case, and it resulted in AT&T having to reduce local phone monopolies. (1974-1982)

  • Department of Justice V Microsoft (Sherman Act)

    DOJ prosecuted Microsoft for violating the first two sections of the Sherman Act because Microsoft eliminated the need for other browsers causing an attempt at monopoly. The case resulted in Microsoft having to split into two separate companies. (November 1999- February 2001)

  • FTC V Google (Federal Trade Commissions Act)

    The FTC and DOJ prosecuted Google for misleading Apple Safari users about privacy policies. Google was found guilty and had to pay a settlement of $22.5 million. (October 2011- August 2012)

  • FTC V Sunday Riley (Federal Trade Commission Act)

    The FTC prosecuted the case against skin care company Sunday Riley for violating section 5a of the FTC Act because their employees wrote false reviews of their products (misleading endorsements). Sunday Riley was found guilty and had to pay a civil penalty. (October 2019- November 2020)