<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Robinson--Patman Act of 1936 (or Anti-Price Discrimination Act, Pub . L. No. 74 - 692, 49 Stat. 1526 (codified at 15 U.S.C. § 13)) is a United States federal law that prohibits anticompetitive practices by producers, specifically price discrimination . It was designed to protect small retail shops against competition from chain stores by fixing a minimum price for retail products . </P> <P> The law grew out of practices in which chain stores were allowed to purchase goods at lower prices than other retailers . An amendment to the Clayton Antitrust Act, it prevented unfair price discrimination for the first time, by requiring that the seller offer the same price terms to customers at a given level of trade . The Act provided for criminal penalties, but contained a specific exemption for "cooperative associations". </P> <P> In general, the Act prohibits sales that discriminate in price on the sale of goods to equally - situated distributors when the effect of such sales is to reduce competition . Price means net price and includes all compensation paid . The seller may not throw in additional goods or services . Injured parties or the US government may bring an action under the Act . </P>

The clayton antitrust act of 1914 and the robinson-patman act of 1936 outlawed what