dreamproit/uscode huggingface dataset:
15 U.S.C. § 13b (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 13b. Cooperative association; return of net earnings or surplus
Nothing in this Act shall prevent a cooperative association from returning to its members, producers, or consumers the whole, or any part of, the net earnings or surplus resulting from its trading operations, in proportion to their purchases or sales from, to, or through the association.
(June 19, 1936, ch. 592, § 4, 49 Stat. 1528.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: This Act, referred to in text, is act June 19, 1936, ch. 592, 49 Stat. 1526, popularly known as the Robinson-Patman Antidiscrimination Act and also as the Robinson-Patman Price Discrimination Act, which enacted sections 13a, 13b, and 21a of this title and amended section 13 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 13 of this title and Tables.
15 U.S.C. § 13c (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 13c. Exemption of non-profit institutions from price discrimination provisions
Nothing in the Act approved June 19, 1936, known as the Robinson-Patman Antidiscrimination Act, shall apply to purchases of their supplies for their own use by schools, colleges, universities, public libraries, churches, hospitals, and charitable institutions not operated for profit.
(May 26, 1938, ch. 283, 52 Stat. 446.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The Act approved June 19, 1936, known as the Robinson-Patman Antidiscrimination Act, referred to in text, is act June 19, 1936, ch. 592, 49 Stat. 1526, also known as the Robinson-Patman Price Discrimination Act, which enacted sections 13a, 13b, and 21a of this title and amended section 13 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 13 of this title and Tables.
15 U.S.C. § 15a (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 15a. Suits by United States; amount of recovery; prejudgment interest
Whenever the United States is hereafter injured in its business or property by reason of anything forbidden in the antitrust laws it may sue therefor in the United States district court for the district in which the defendant resides or is found or has an agent, without respect to the amount in controversy, and shall recover threefold the damages by it sustained and the cost of suit. The court may award under this section, pursuant to a motion by the United States promptly made, simple interest on actual damages for the period beginning on the date of service of the pleading of the United States setting forth a claim under the antitrust laws and ending on the date of judgment, or for any shorter period therein, if the court finds that the award of such interest for such period is just in the circumstances. In determining whether an award of interest under this section for any period is just in the circumstances, the court shall consider only—
(1) whether the United States or the opposing party, or either party’s representative, made motions or asserted claims or defenses so lacking in merit as to show that such party or representative acted intentionally for delay or otherwise acted in bad faith;
(2) whether, in the course of the action involved, the United States or the opposing party, or either party’s representative, violated any applicable rule, statute, or court order providing for sanctions for dilatory behavior or otherwise providing for expeditious proceedings;
(3) whether the United States or the opposing party, or either party’s representative, engaged in conduct primarily for the purpose of delaying the litigation or increasing the cost thereof; and
(4) whether the award of such interest is necessary to compensate the United States adequately for the injury sustained by the United States.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4A, as added July 7, 1955, ch. 283, § 1, 69 Stat. 282; amended Pub. L. 96–349, § 4(a)(2), Sept. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 1156; Pub. L. 101–588, § 5, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2880.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The antitrust laws, referred to in text, are defined in section 12 of this title.
heading: Amendments
text: 1990—Pub. L. 101–588 substituted “threefold the” for “actual”.
1980—Pub. L. 96–349 inserted provisions respecting award of prejudgment interest including considerations for the court in determining whether an award is just under the circumstances.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 96–349 applicable only with respect to actions commenced after Sept. 12, 1980, see section 4(b) of Pub. L. 96–349, set out as a note under section 15 of this title.
heading: Effective Date
text: Section effective six months after July 7, 1955, see note set out under section 15b of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 15b (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 15b. Limitation of actions
Any action to enforce any cause of action under section 15, 15a, or 15c of this title shall be forever barred unless commenced within four years after the cause of action accrued. No cause of action barred under existing law on the effective date of this Act shall be revived by this Act.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4B, as added July 7, 1955, ch. 283, § 1, 69 Stat. 283; amended Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 302(1), Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1396.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The effective date of this Act, referred to in text, probably refers to the effective date of act July 7, 1955, ch. 283, 69 Stat. 282, which was six months after July 7, 1955.
This Act, referred to in text, probably refers to act July 7, 1955.
heading: Amendments
text: 1976—Pub. L. 94–435 substituted “section 15, 15a, or 15c” for “sections 15 or 15a”.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date
text: Act July 7, 1955, ch. 283, § 4, 69 Stat. 283, provided: “This Act [enacting this section and section 15a of this title, amending section 16 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 15 of this title] shall take effect six months after its enactment [July 7, 1955].”
15 U.S.C. § 15d (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 15d. Measurement of damages
In any action under section 15c(a)(1) of this title, in which there has been a determination that a defendant agreed to fix prices in violation of sections 1 to 7 of this title, damages may be proved and assessed in the aggregate by statistical or sampling methods, by the computation of illegal overcharges, or by such other reasonable system of estimating aggregate damages as the court in its discretion may permit without the necessity of separately proving the individual claim of, or amount of damage to, persons on whose behalf the suit was brought.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4D, as added Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1395.)
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date
text: Injuries sustained prior to Sept. 30, 1976, not covered by this section, see section 304 of Pub. L. 94–435, set out as a note under section 15c of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 15e (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 15e. Distribution of damages
Monetary relief recovered in an action under section 15c(a)(1) of this title shall—
(1) be distributed in such manner as the district court in its discretion may authorize; or
(2) be deemed a civil penalty by the court and deposited with the State as general revenues;
subject in either case to the requirement that any distribution procedure adopted afford each person a reasonable opportunity to secure his appropriate portion of the net monetary relief.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4E, as added Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1395.)
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date
text: Injuries sustained prior to Sept. 30, 1976, not covered by this section, see section 304 of Pub. L. 94–435, set out as a note under section 15c of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 15f (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 15f. Actions by Attorney General
(a) Notification to State attorney general
Whenever the Attorney General of the United States has brought an action under the antitrust laws, and he has reason to believe that any State attorney general would be entitled to bring an action under this Act based substantially on the same alleged violation of the antitrust laws, he shall promptly give written notification thereof to such State attorney general.
(b) Availability of files and other materials
To assist a State attorney general in evaluating the notice or in bringing any action under this Act, the Attorney General of the United States shall, upon request by such State attorney general, make available to him, to the extent permitted by law, any investigative files or other materials which are or may be relevant or material to the actual or potential cause of action under this Act.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4F, as added Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1395.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The antitrust laws, referred to in subsec. (a), are defined in section 12 of this title.
This Act, referred to in text, is act Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, 38 Stat. 730, as amended, known as the Clayton Act, which is classified generally to sections 12, 13, 14 to 19, 21, and 22 to 27 of this title, and sections 52 and 53 of Title 29, Labor. For further details and complete classification of this Act to the Code, see References in Text note set out under section 12 of this title and Tables.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date
text: Injuries sustained prior to Sept. 30, 1976, not covered by this section, see section 304 of Pub. L. 94–435, set out as a note under section 15c of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 15g (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 15g. Definitions
For the purposes of sections 15c, 15d, 15e, and 15f of this title:
(1) The term “State attorney general” means the chief legal officer of a State, or any other person authorized by State law to bring actions under section 15c of this title, and includes the Corporation Counsel of the District of Columbia, except that such term does not include any person employed or retained on—
(A) a contingency fee based on a percentage of the monetary relief awarded under this section; or
(B) any other contingency fee basis, unless the amount of the award of a reasonable attorney’s fee to a prevailing plaintiff is determined by the court under section 15c(d)(1) of this title.
(2) The term “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
(3) The term “natural persons” does not include proprietorships or partnerships.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4G, as added Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1396.)
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date
text: Injuries sustained prior to Sept. 30, 1976, not covered by this section, see section 304 of Pub. L. 94–435, set out as a note under section 15c of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 15h (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 15h. Applicability of parens patriae actions
Sections 15c, 15d, 15e, 15f, and 15g of this title shall apply in any State, unless such State provides by law for its nonapplicability in such State.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4H, as added Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1396.)
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date
text: Injuries sustained prior to Sept. 30, 1976, not covered by this section, see section 304 of Pub. L. 94–435, set out as a note under section 15c of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 17 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 17. Antitrust laws not applicable to labor organizations
The labor of a human being is not a commodity or article of commerce. Nothing contained in the antitrust laws shall be construed to forbid the existence and operation of labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations, instituted for the purposes of mutual help, and not having capital stock or conducted for profit, or to forbid or restrain individual members of such organizations from lawfully carrying out the legitimate objects thereof; nor shall such organizations, or the members thereof, be held or construed to be illegal combinations or conspiracies in restraint of trade, under the antitrust laws.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 6, 38 Stat. 731.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The antitrust laws, referred to in text, are defined in section 12 of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 21a (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 21a. Actions and proceedings pending prior to June 19, 1936; additional and continuing violations
Nothing herein contained shall affect rights of action arising, or litigation pending, or orders of the Federal Trade Commission issued and in effect or pending on review, based on section 13 of this title, prior to June 19, 1936: Provided, That where, prior to June 19, 1936, the Federal Trade Commission has issued an order requiring any person to cease and desist from a violation of section 13 of this title, and such order is pending on review or is in effect, either as issued or as affirmed or modified by a court of competent jurisdiction, and the Commission shall have reason to believe that such person has committed, used or carried on, since June 19, 1936, or is committing, using or carrying on, any act, practice or method in violation of any of the provisions of said section 13 of this title, it may reopen such original proceedings and may issue and serve upon such person its complaint, supplementary to the original complaint, stating its charges in that respect. Thereupon the same proceedings shall be had upon such supplementary complaint as provided in section 21 of this title. If upon such hearing the Commission shall be of the opinion that any act, practice, or method charged in said supplementary complaint has been committed, used, or carried on since June 19, 1936, or is being committed, used or carried on, in violation of said section 13 of this title, it shall make a report in writing in which it shall state its findings as to the facts and shall issue and serve upon such person its order modifying or amending its original order to include any additional violations of law so found. Thereafter the provisions of section 21 of this title, as to review and enforcement of orders of the Commission shall in all things apply to such modified or amended order. If upon review as provided in said section 21 of this title the court shall set aside such modified or amended order, the original order shall not be affected thereby, but it shall be and remain in force and effect as fully and to the same extent as if such supplementary proceedings had not been taken.
(June 19, 1936, ch. 592, § 2, 49 Stat. 1527.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: Nothing herein contained, referred to in text, probably means nothing contained in act June 19, 1936, ch. 592, 49 Stat. 1526, popularly known as the Robinson-Patman Antidiscrimination Act and also as the Robinson-Patman Price Discrimination Act, which enacted sections 13a, 13b, and 21a of this title and amended section 13 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 13 of this title and Tables.
heading: Executive Documents
heading: Transfer of Functions
text: For transfer of functions of Federal Trade Commission, with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 8 of 1950, § 1, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1264, set out under section 41 of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 22 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 22. District in which to sue corporation
Any suit, action, or proceeding under the antitrust laws against a corporation may be brought not only in the judicial district whereof it is an inhabitant, but also in any district wherein it may be found or transacts business; and all process in such cases may be served in the district of which it is an inhabitant, or wherever it may be found.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 12, 38 Stat. 736.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The antitrust laws, referred to in text, are defined in section 12 of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 23 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 23. Suits by United States; subpoenas for witnesses
In any suit, action, or proceeding brought by or on behalf of the United States subpoenas for witnesses who are required to attend a court of the United States in any judicial district in any case, civil or criminal, arising under the antitrust laws may run into any other district: Provided, That in civil cases no writ of subpoena shall issue for witnesses living out of the district in which the court is held at a greater distance than one hundred miles from the place of holding the same without the permission of the trial court being first had upon proper application and cause shown.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 13, 38 Stat. 736.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The antitrust laws, referred to in text, are defined in section 12 of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 24 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 24. Liability of directors and agents of corporation
Whenever a corporation shall violate any of the penal provisions of the antitrust laws, such violation shall be deemed to be also that of the individual directors, officers, or agents of such corporation who shall have authorized, ordered, or done any of the acts constituting in whole or in part such violation, and such violation shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and upon conviction therefor of any such director, officer, or agent he shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding $5,000 or by imprisonment for not exceeding one year, or by both, in the discretion of the court.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 14, 38 Stat. 736.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The antitrust laws, referred to in text, are defined in section 12 of this title.
15 U.S.C. § 25 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 25. Restraining violations; procedure
The several district courts of the United States are invested with jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of this Act, and it shall be the duty of the several United States attorneys, in their respective districts, under the direction of the Attorney General, to institute proceedings in equity to prevent and restrain such violations. Such proceedings may be by way of petition setting forth the case and praying that such violation shall be enjoined or otherwise prohibited. When the parties complained of shall have been duly notified of such petition, the court shall proceed, as soon as may be, to the hearing and determination of the case; and pending such petition, and before final decree, the court may at any time make such temporary restraining order or prohibition as shall be deemed just in the premises. Whenever it shall appear to the court before which any such proceeding may be pending that the ends of justice require that other parties should be brought before the court, the court may cause them to be summoned whether they reside in the district in which the court is held or not, and subpoenas to that end may be served in any district by the marshal thereof.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 15, 38 Stat. 736; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 1, 62 Stat. 909.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: This Act, referred to in text, is act Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, 38 Stat. 730, as amended, which is classified generally to sections 12, 13, 14 to 19, 20, 21, and 22 to 27 of this title, and sections 52 and 53 of Title 29, Labor. For further details and complete classification of this Act to the Code, see References in Text note set out under section 12 of this title and Tables.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Change of Name
text: Act June 25, 1948, eff. Sept. 1, 1948, substituted “United States attorneys” for “district attorneys of the United States”. See section 541 et seq. of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
15 U.S.C. § 26 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 26. Injunctive relief for private parties; exception; costs
Any person, firm, corporation, or association shall be entitled to sue for and have injunctive relief, in any court of the United States having jurisdiction over the parties, against threatened loss or damage by a violation of the antitrust laws, including sections 13, 14, 18, and 19 of this title, when and under the same conditions and principles as injunctive relief against threatened conduct that will cause loss or damage is granted by courts of equity, under the rules governing such proceedings, and upon the execution of proper bond against damages for an injunction improvidently granted and a showing that the danger of irreparable loss or damage is immediate, a preliminary injunction may issue: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to entitle any person, firm, corporation, or association, except the United States, to bring suit for injunctive relief against any common carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board under subtitle IV of title 49. In any action under this section in which the plaintiff substantially prevails, the court shall award the cost of suit, including a reasonable attorney’s fee, to such plaintiff.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 16, 38 Stat. 737; Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 302(3), Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1396; Pub. L. 104–88, title III, § 318(3), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 949.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The antitrust laws, referred to in text, are defined in section 12 of this title.
heading: Amendments
text: 1995—Pub. L. 104–88 substituted “for injunctive relief against any common carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board under subtitle IV of title 49” for “in equity for injunctive relief against any common carrier subject to the provisions of the Act to regulate commerce, approved February fourth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, in respect of any matter subject to the regulation, supervision, or other jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerce Commission.”
1976—Pub. L. 94–435 inserted provision authorizing court to award costs, including attorneys’ fees, to a successful plaintiff.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 1995 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 104–88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1301 of Title 49, Transportation.
15 U.S.C. § 27 (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 27. Effect of partial invalidity
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this Act shall, for any reason, be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be in­valid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 28, formerly § 26, 38 Stat. 740; renumbered § 27, Pub. L. 96–493, § 2, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2568; renumbered § 28, Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title IV, § 14102(d), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1922.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: This Act, referred to in text, is act Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, 38 Stat. 730, as amended, known as the Clayton Act, which is classified generally to sections 12, 13, 14 to 19, 21, and 22 to 27 of this title, and sections 52 and 53 of Title 29, Labor. For further details and complete classification of this Act to the Code, see References in Text note set out under section 12 of this title and Tables.
15 U.S.C. § 27a (COMMERCE AND TRADE)
§ 27a. Transferred
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: Codification
text: Section, act Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 27, as added Pub. L. 105–297, § 3, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2824, which related to application of antitrust laws to professional major league baseball, was transferred to section 26b of this title.