1. Patents and Copyrights Find out some interesting facts about patents and copyrights—10 minutes We will review your findings together

2. Market Regulation 6.3 Era of Big Business—Trusts—Huge monopolies called trusts dominated the marketplace. (after the civil war). Oil, steel, coal, sugar, tobacco, railroads Laissez-faire philosophy—Economic systems prosper when the government does not interfere in any way.

3. Early AntiTrust Legislation 6.3 Antitrust legislation—Acts were designed to monitor and regulate big business and prevent monopolies. Interstate Commerce Act—Created to oversee the railroad freight business.(Monitored freight rates). Sherman Antitrust Act—Banned any agreement to restrain free trade.

4. Antitrust Legislation 6.3 Clayton Antitrust Act—Further defined the Sherman Antitrust act principles. (Filled in the “loopholes”). Outlawed “Price Discrimination”-the practice of charging different prices to different customers under the same circumstances. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—Investigates charges of unfair methods of competition.

5. Recent Antitrust Policy 6.3 Examples: AT &T telephone monopoly in 1982 was broken up into a system of “Baby Bells.” Microsoft was sued by the Federal Gov’t under the Clinton Administration but so far unsuccessful.

6. DeBeers Diamonds Research some interesting points about DeBeers Diamond Company. % of Diamond market controlled? Treatment of employees? Working conditions? Your conclusions. Credit: Write a 2 page—double spaced paper on DeBeers Diamond Company. 25 points