US House Committee Passes Consumer Protection Against Price Fixing

July 31, 2009

Today, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy passed the Discount Pricing Consumer Protection Act of 2009, H.R. 3190, by voice vote without opposition. eBay applauds the Committee for taking this important step to protect consumers and small businesses from the anti-competitive effects of retail price fixing.

The Supreme Court\'s 2007 Leegin decision has allowed large manufacturers and their biggest retail partners to undermine Internet and small business based competition. Quite often, the most entrenched businesses are threatened by innovative online businesses that can offer consumers better prices, more options and new services. Especially during these difficult economic times, consumers should not be denied the choice and value that robust small business competition provides. We look forward to full House action to reverse the Leegin decision by enacting H.R.3190 to protect consumers and retail innovators from retail price-fixing.