The word trust means a lot of things, usually positive, but in a business and commerce context a trust is a large business entity, combination of interests, or agreement among businesses motivated by the goal of suppressing competition. While beating the competition with a better product or better fiscal management is the name of the game, actively seeking an unfair advantage is illegal under federal and state antitrust laws. For example, Intel is a very dominant player in the microprocessor industry but it is not considered a trust because there have been no findings of illegal trust activity or collusion with other companies.
When the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determines that a business entity is an illegal trust, the agency typically breaks it up into smaller companies. State courts generally handle antitrust cases that are more localized and don't involve interstate commerce.
Idaho Antitrust Law at a Glance
Under Idaho statute, monopolies and conspiracies among two or more entities are considered illegal activities. The state also has the authority to block acquisitions that would "substantially lessen competition." Additional details of Idaho antitrust law are listed in the following chart.
| Antitrust Code Section | Idaho Competition Act: 48-101, et seq. |
| Prohibited Practices |
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| Is a Private Lawsuit Possible? | Yes; attorney general also enforces |
| Time Limit to Bring Claim | 4 yrs. or within one year after cause of action by state concludes |
| Can a Successful Plaintiff Recover Attorneys' Fees? | Yes |
Note: State laws are always subject to change at any time through the enactment of newly signed legislation or other means. You should contact an Idaho antitrust and trade regulation attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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Idaho Antitrust Laws: Related Resources
