Society of Plastics Engineers
Policy Number 008
Anti-Trust
Original Approval Date:
Original Effective Date:
Revision Approval Date:
Revision Effective Date:
I.
July 14, 2001 by SPE Executive Committee
October 19, 2001
September 30, 2006
September 30, 2006
Scope:
A. The purpose of the anti-trust policy is to protect SPE’s interest, when members,
volunteers or staff gather or communicate, by prohibiting anti-competitive
behavior and unfair business practices. This policy is intended to supplement but
not replace any applicable state or national laws governing anti-trust issues
applicable to nonprofit and charitable corporations. This policy covers all SPE
members, all SPE volunteers and all SPE Staff members.
B. Antitrust laws prohibit agreements in restraint of trade, monopolization and
attempted monopolization, anticompetitive mergers and tie-in schemes, and, in
some circumstances, price discrimination in the sale of commodities, products, or
services.
II. Responsibility for this Policy:
A. Establishing Body: The SPE Council is responsible for establishment of this
policy.
B. Amendment or Abolition:
1. Qualified Body: The SPE Council is the only group authorized to change this
policy. This authority may not be delegated.
2. Amendment or Abolition Mechanism:
a. This policy may be amended by a majority of the Councilors voting at a
properly called Council meeting.
b. This policy may be abolished only by a two-thirds majority of the
Councilors voting at a properly called Council meeting.
C. Maintaining Body: The Bylaws and Policy Committee, together with the Staff at
Headquarters, is responsible for the maintenance of this policy.
III. Policy Definition:
A. In any meeting under the aegis of SPE, formal or informal, of SPE members,
volunteers, or staff, or in any SPE document, note, writing, or other
communication, there can be:
1. No discussion among members, volunteers, or staff, which attempts to arrive
at any agreement regarding prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution,
volume, territories, or customers;
2. No activity or communication which might be construed as an attempt to
prevent any person or business entity from gaining access to any market or
customer for goods or services or any business entity from obtaining services
or a supply of goods;
3. No activity or communication which might be construed as an agreement to
refrain from purchasing or using any materials, equipment, services or
supplies of or from any supplier; or
4. No other activity which violates anti-trust or applicable laws aimed at
preventing unfair competition.