[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3543 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3543

To modify the application of the antitrust laws to authorize collective 
negotiations among playwrights and producers regarding the development, 
                  licensing, and production of plays.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 19, 2001

  Mr. Hyde (for himself and Mr. Frank) introduced the following bill; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To modify the application of the antitrust laws to authorize collective 
negotiations among playwrights and producers regarding the development, 
                  licensing, and production of plays.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fair Play for Playwrights Act of 
2001''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF APPLICATION OF ANTITRUST LAWS.

    The antitrust laws shall not apply to--
            (1) any--
                    (A) agreement by and among playwrights, or by and 
                among representatives or associations of playwrights; 
                or
                    (B) concerted action taken by playwrights or by 
                representatives or associations of playwrights;
        for the purpose of establishing and enforcing the minimum terms 
        and conditions on which the works of such playwrights will be 
        developed, licensed, or produced, or
            (2) any discussion by and among--
                    (A) representatives or associations of playwrights; 
                and
                    (B) producers;
        for the purpose of negotiating, implementing, or enforcing a 
        standard form contract or other collective agreement governing 
        the terms and conditions on which playwrights' works will be 
        developed, licensed, or produced.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Antitrust laws.--The term ``antitrust laws'' shall have 
        the meaning given it in section (a) of the first section of the 
        Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 12), except that such term includes 
        section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) to 
        the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods of 
        competition.
            (2) Person.--The term ``person'' shall mean any individual, 
        partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, or any 
        combination or association thereof.
            (3) Playwright.--The term ``playwright'' means the author, 
        composer, or lyricist of a dramatic or musical work intended to 
        be performed on the speaking stage and shall include, where 
        appropriate, the adapter of a work from another medium.
            (4) Producer.--The term ``producer'' means any person who 
        obtains the rights to present live stage productions of a play.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

    This Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 
and shall apply only with respect to conduct occurring on or after such 
date.
                                 <all>