Monopolization Deterrence Act of 2019

Monopolization Deterrence Act of 2019

This bill establishes civil penalties for violations of the prohibition on monopolistic conduct under the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. (Monopolistic conduct includes exclusionary practices by businesses with monopoly power, such as self-preferencing or refusal to deal with a competitor, among other conduct.)

The bill further provides authority for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to bring claims in federal court to recover these civil penalties. DOJ and the FTC must issue joint guidelines for determining the amount of the civil penalty to seek for such claims.