Antitrust

“Antitrust laws . . . are the Magna Carta of free enterprise. They are as important to the preservation of economic freedom and our free-enterprise system as the Bill of Rights is to the protection of our fundamental personal freedoms.” United States v. Topco Associates, Inc., 405 U.S. 596, 610 (1972).

Antitrust enforcement ensures fair competition to benefit businesses and consumers in Vermont. The Vermont Attorney General’s Office is responsible for civil and criminal enforcement of Vermont’s antitrust laws as defined in 9 V.S.A. § 2453 and has authority to file civil actions under federal antitrust statutes. Vermont’s antitrust remedies, and the rights of “indirect purchasers,” are set forth in 9 V.S.A. § 2465. Vermont’s law against predatory pricing is set forth in 9 V.S.A. § 2461c.

The following links provide general information about antitrust laws from the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice:

• Overview of Antitrust Laws
• Single-firm Conduct (Maintaining or Creating a Monopoly)
• Dealings with Competitors
• Dealings in the Supply Chain
• Mergers
• Price Discrimination
• An Antitrust Primer (Price Fixing, Bid Rigging, and Market Allocation)

If you believe that a business or individual is violating antitrust laws, you can contact the Office of the Attorney General by email at antitrustinfo@atg.state.vt.us or by mail at:

Office of the Attorney General
Antitrust Unit
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001