2017 US Code
Title 15 - Commerce and Trade
Chapter 69 - Cooperative Research
Sec. 4304 - Award of costs, including attorney's fees, to substantially prevailing party; offset

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Citation 15 U.S.C. § 4304 (2017)
Section Name §4304. Award of costs, including attorney's fees, to substantially prevailing party; offset
Section Text

(a) Notwithstanding sections 15 and 26 of this title, in any claim under the antitrust laws, or any State law similar to the antitrust laws, based on the conducting of a joint venture, or of a standards development activity engaged in by a standards development organization, the court shall, at the conclusion of the action—

(1) award to a substantially prevailing claimant the cost of suit attributable to such claim, including a reasonable attorney's fee, or

(2) award to a substantially prevailing party defending against any such claim the cost of suit attributable to such claim, including a reasonable attorney's fee, if the claim, or the claimant's conduct during the litigation of the claim, was frivolous, unreasonable, without foundation, or in bad faith.


(b) The award made under subsection (a) may be offset in whole or in part by an award in favor of any other party for any part of the cost of suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee, attributable to conduct during the litigation by any prevailing party that the court finds to be frivolous, unreasonable, without foundation, or in bad faith.

(c) Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply with respect to any person who—

(1) directly participates in a standards development activity with respect to which a violation of any of the antitrust laws is found,

(2) is not a fulltime employee of a standards development organization that engaged in such activity, and

(3) is, or is an employee or agent of a person who is, engaged in a line of commerce that is likely to benefit directly from the operation of the standards development activity with respect to which such violation is found.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 98–462, §5, Oct. 11, 1984, 98 Stat. 1817; Pub. L. 103–42, §3(e)(2), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 119; Pub. L. 108–237, title I, §106, June 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 664.)

Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS

2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–237, §106(1), inserted ", or of a standards development activity engaged in by a standards development organization" after "joint venture" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–237, §106(2), added subsec. (c).

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–42 substituted "joint venture" for "joint research and development venture" in introductory provisions.

Publication Title United States Code, 2012 Edition, Supplement 5, Title 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 69 - COOPERATIVE RESEARCH
Sec. 4304 - Award of costs, including attorney's fees, to substantially prevailing party; offset
Contains section 4304
Date 2017
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 12, 2018
Positive Law No
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 98 Stat. 1817
107 Stat. 119
118 Stat. 664
Public Law References Public Law 98-462, Public Law 103-42, Public Law 108-237
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