Sherman Antitrust Act: Federal law prohibiting monopolistic business practices and anti-competitive agreements. Must ensure distribution agreement doesn't violate anti-competition provisions.
Clayton Act: Federal antitrust law addressing specific practices not explicitly covered by Sherman Act, including exclusive dealing arrangements and price discrimination.
Federal Trade Commission Act: Prohibits unfair methods of competition and deceptive practices. Distribution agreements must comply with FTC guidelines.
Robinson-Patman Act: Federal law prohibiting price discrimination between different purchasers of comparable goods. Critical for pricing structures in distribution agreements.
Lanham Act: Federal trademark law protecting intellectual property rights in distribution relationships and governing trademark usage.
Uniform Commercial Code: State-adopted uniform law governing commercial transactions, including sales and distribution of goods.
State Antitrust Laws: State-specific regulations governing competition and trade practices, which may be more stringent than federal laws.
State Franchise Laws: State regulations that may apply if the distribution arrangement could be classified as a franchise relationship.
State Contract Laws: State-specific requirements for contract formation, enforcement, and interpretation.
FDA Regulations: Federal regulations governing food, beverage, and medical product distribution if applicable to the goods being distributed.
Consumer Product Safety Regulations: Federal and state safety standards for consumer products that must be met in distribution arrangements.
Intellectual Property Protection: Laws governing copyright, trademark, patent rights, and trade secret protection in distribution relationships.
International Trade Laws: Regulations governing cross-border distribution, including import/export requirements and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance.
Contract Law Fundamentals: Basic principles including offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, and legal purpose that form the foundation of the agreement.
Dispute Resolution Framework: Laws governing arbitration, mediation, and litigation procedures for resolving distribution agreement disputes.
