Immunity restrictions.(c)(1) Except as specifically provided in this subsection, no provisions of this Act shall be deemed to convey to any person subject to this Act immunity from civil or criminal liability, or to create defenses to actions, under the antitrust laws.
"Antitrust laws."(2) As used in this subsection, the term "antitrust laws" includes—
- (A) the Act entitled "An Act to protect trade and commerce against unlawful restraints and monopolies", approved July 2, 26 Stat. 209;
69 Stat. 282.1890 (15 U.S.C. 1 et seq.);
- (B) the Act entitled "An Act to supplement existing laws against unlawful restraints and monopolies, and for other 38 Stat. 730;
49 Stat. 1526.purposes", approved October 15, 1914 (15 U.S.C. 12 et seq.);
- (C) the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.);38 Stat. 717;
52 Stat. 111.
- (D) sections 73 and 74 of the Act entitled "An Act to reduce taxation, to provide revenue for the Government, and for other 28 Stat. 570.purposes", approved August 27, 1894 (15 U.S.C. 8 and 9); and
- (E) the Act of June 19, 1936, chapter 592 (15 U.S.C. 13, 13a, 13b, and 21a).
(3) The regulation promulgated under section 4(a) of this Act shall be forwarded on or before the date of its promulgation to the Attorney General and to the Federal Trade Commission, who shall, at least Report to President.seven days prior to the effective date of such regulation, report to the President with respect to whether such regulation would tend to create or maintain anticompetitive practices or situations inconsistent with the antitrust laws, and propose any alternative which would avoid or overcome such effects while achieving the purposes of this Act.
Meeting.(4) Whenever it is necessary, in order to comply with the provisions of this Act or the regulation or any orders under section 4 thereof, for owners, directors, officers, agents, employees, or representatives of two or more persons engaged in the business of producing, refining, marketing, or distributing crude oil, residual fuel oil, or any refined petroleum product to meet, confer, or communicate in such a fashion and to such ends that might otherwise be construed to constitute a violation of the antitrust laws, such persons may do so only upon an order of the President (or of an officer or agency of the United States to whom the President has delegated authority under section 5(b) of this Act); which order shall specify and limit the subject matter and objectives of such meeting, conference, or communication. Moreover, such meeting, conference, or communication shall take place only in the presence of a representative of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, and a verbatim transcript of such meeting, conference, or communication shall be taken and deposited, together with any agreement resulting therefrom, with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission, where it shall be made available for public inspection.
Antitrust laws or breach of contract, defense.(5) There shall be available as a defense to any action brought under the antitrust laws, or for breach of contract in any Federal or State court arising out of delay or failure to provide, sell, or offer for sale or exchange crude oil, residual fuel oil, or any refined petroleum product, that such delay or failure was caused solely by compliance with the provisions of this Act or with the regulation or any order under section 4 of this Act.
(6) There shall be available as a defense to any action brought under the antitrust laws arising from any meeting, conference, or communication or agreement resulting therefrom, held or made solely for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this Act or the regulation or any order under section 4 thereof, that such meeting, conference, communication, or agreement was carried out or made in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (4) of this subsection.