{"id":374440,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:46","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/missouri-law\/missouri-antitrust-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-08-29T17:49:40","modified_gmt":"2016-08-29T22:49:40","slug":"missouri-antitrust-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/missouri-law\/missouri-antitrust-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Missouri Antitrust Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Missouri Antitrust Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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What are Antitrust Laws?<\/h2>\n

<\/b>A very large company that has no real competition is referred to as a "trust." Trusts, in this context, are typically bad for consumers because they restrict competition and result in fewer choices for consumers — and typically higher prices. Therefore, antitrust laws<\/a> are intended to discourage businesses from restricting competition. Most antitrust regulation comes from the federal government, since corporations typically conduct business across state lines.<\/p>\n

Overview of Missouri Antitrust Laws<\/h2>\n

Missouri’s antitrust laws are in a code section entitled "Monopolies, Discriminations and Conspiracies" and impose both fines and county jail sentences. Missouri law is unique in that it also focuses on specific commodities, such as milk and motor fuel. In addition, the Missouri Unfair Milk Sales Practices Law<\/a> allows for injunctive relief — in other words, a producer selling milk at below cost in order to squeeze competitors may be ordered to cease this activity.<\/p>\n

The state’s attorney general investigates suspected antitrust violations, which include:<\/p>\n