Federal · Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

15 U.S.C. § 7a: Definitions

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute defines terms related to antitrust leniency agreements and cooperation with the Department of Justice, and revives criminal penalty provisions for antitrust violations to encourage cooperation with prosecutors.

Read the full statutory text
The term “Antitrust Division” means the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division. The term “antitrust leniency agreement,” or “agreement,” means a leniency letter agreement, whether conditional or final, between a person and the Antitrust Division pursuant to the Corporate Leniency Policy of the Antitrust Division in effect on the date of execution of the agreement. The term “antitrust leniency applicant,” or “applicant,” means, with respect to an antitrust leniency agreement, the person that has entered into the agreement. The term “claimant” means a person or class, that has brought, or on whose behalf has been brought, a civil action alleging a violation of section 1 or 3 of this title or any similar State law, except that the term does not include a State or a subdivision of a State with respect to a civil action brought to recover damages sustained by the State or subdivision. The term “cooperating individual” means, with respect to an antitrust leniency agreement, a current or former director, officer, or employee of the antitrust leniency applicant who is covered by the agreement. The term “person” has the meaning given it in subsection (a) of section 12 of this title . Conspiracies among competitors to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate markets are categorically and irredeemably anticompetitive and contravene the competition policy of the United States. Cooperation incentives are important to the efforts of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice to prosecute and deter the offenses described in paragraph (1). The purpose of this Act [probably means title III of div. D (§ 4301 et seq.) of Pub. L. 116–159 , see Tables for classification], and the amendments made by this Act, is to strengthen public and private antitrust enforcement by providing incentives for antitrust violators to cooperate fully with government prosecutors and private litigants through the repeal of the sunset provision of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 [ section 211 of Pub. L. 108–237 ] ([former] 15 U.S.C. 1 note).” Sections 212, 213, and 214 of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 [title II of Pub. L. 108–237 ] ([former] 15 U.S.C. 1 note [now 15 U.S.C. 7a , 7a–1, 7a–2, respectively]) as in effect on June 21, 2020 , and as amended by the laws described in subparagraph (B), are revived and restored. Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 Extension Act ( Public Law 111–30 ; 123 Stat. 1775 ) [amending former section 211 of Pub. L. 108–237 ]. The Act entitled ‘An Act to amend the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 to extend the operation of such Act, and for other purposes’, approved June 9, 2010 ( Public Law 111–90 [sic, probably should be “111–190”]; 124 Stat. 1275 ) [amending this section, sections 7a–1 and 7a–2 of this title, and former section 211 of Pub. L. 108–237 ].” Notwithstanding the repeal under subsection (a) [repealing section 211 of Pub. L. 108–237 ], section 211(b) of the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 [ Pub. L. 108–237 ] ([former] 15 U.S.C. 1 note), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [ Oct. 1, 2020 ], shall continue to apply to any person who received a marker or entered into an antitrust leniency agreement on or before June 22, 2020 . The repeal under subsection (a) shall apply to any person who received a marker or entered into an antitrust leniency agreement on or after June 23, 2020 .”

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.