PWAR Anti-Trust Policy
The Prince William Association of REALTORS® (The Association) has an antitrust compliance policy, which applies to all offices, directors, employees, and Members of The Association. This policy requires that such individuals be familiar and fully comply with all applicable federal and state antitrust laws in all dealings on behalf of The Association. The Association and its facilities shall not be used by any officer, director, committee, or member in connection with any anti-competitive or unlawful purpose, or unreasonable restraint of trade.The Dos and Don’ts presented below highlight basic antitrust principles. Members should consult counsel in all cases involving specific situations, interpretations, or advice.
DO NOT:
1. Do not, if fact or appearance, discuss or exchange information regarding:
a. Commission levels, fees, business expenses or other business information or policies which would allow or encourage price fixing or maintenance;
b. Bids on contracts for particular properties or any information which would allow or encourage bid rigging;
c. Actions relating to actual or potential competitors that might have the effect of excluding them from your market or of influencing the business conduct of customers towards such competitors;
d. Plans of individual companies concerning proposed or existing territories or customers;
e. A firm’s competitive business decisions;
f. The duration or types of listing agreements or the form of compensation accepted.
g. The compensation offered or paid to a firm’s agents or employees;
h. Any other actions that might be construed as concerted attempts to restrain competition, including joint attempts to control or affect prices, market conditions, marketing practices, customer choice, etc.
2. Do not discuss or exchange information regarding the above matters during social gatherings incidental to PWAR-sponsored meetings, or in on-line chat groups or list-serves, even in jest.
3. In addition, any general historical statistical data collected by PWAR is for use and analysis by individual businesses and should not be discussed among competitors at organized functions or otherwise.
DO:
1. Adhere to prepared agendas for all PWAR meetings and object any time meeting minutes do not accurately reflect the matters which transpired.
2. Consult with the PWAR CEO and your company legal counsel on all antitrust questions relating to PWAR meetings.
3. Protect against any discussions or meeting activities that appear to violate the antitrust laws; disassociate yourself from any such discussions and leave any meeting in which they continue.