Antitrust Policy

MSA is a nonprofit association organized to advance the success of cultural commerce and of the professionals engaged in it. MSA is committed to helping member institutions be competitive in their respective markets, fiscally responsible and, in general, assets to their institutions.

Through MSA's Museum Retail Conference, Expo, chapter meetings, seminars and various publications, the association brings together museum representatives and vendors. The Board of Directors recognizes that the association's activities could be seen by some as an opportunity for anticompetitive conduct.

Thus, the board takes this opportunity to express its undeviating policy to comply strictly with the letter and spirit of all federal, state, applicable trade regulations and antitrust laws. Any of MSA's actions or the actions of its staff, officers, directors or members that violates these regulations and laws is detrimental to the association's interests and is unequivocally contrary to MSA policy.

The following rules apply to all MSA activities and must be observed at all MSA-sponsored activities and functions under all circumstances-without exception-unless specifically noted below.

To assist MSA's staff members and all its officers and committees in recognizing situations that may raise the appearance of an antitrust problem, the Board of Directors has adopted this Antitrust Policy.

Should questions arise as to the manner in which the antitrust laws apply to activities of MSA or any of its committees, such questions shall be directed to the MSA headquarters.

Guidelines

• MSA shall not be used for the purpose of bringing about or attempting to bring about any understanding or agreement-written or oral, formal or informal, express or implied-regarding prices, terms or conditions of sale, distribution, volume or customers.
  
  
• No MSA activity or communication shall include discussion-for any purpose or in any fashion-of pricing methods or other limitations in timing, costs or volume of production or sale, or allocation of customers.
  
  
• No MSA activity or communication shall include any discussion that 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 to prevent any business entity from obtaining a supply of goods or otherwise purchasing goods or services freely in the market.
  
  
• MSA-sponsored activities shall not include any activity or communication which is or might be construed as an agreement to refrain from purchasing any products, services or supplies from any supplier.

These rules apply to informal discussions at MSA-sponsored activities and functions as well as formal presentations and meetings. Antitrust compliance is the responsibility of every MSA member, affiliate, sponsor and staff member.

MSA Antitrust Policy Frequently Asked Questions