What is the difference between unfair competition and antitrust law?

Unfair competition and antitrust law are two laws that are designed to protect businesses. However, they are distinct legal philosophies that have different goals and approaches. Unfair competition law, also known as unfair trade practices, is designed to protect businesses from deceptive practices in the marketplace. Examples of deceptive practices include false advertising, bait-and-switch schemes, and deceptive pricing. Unfair competition law seeks to prevent businesses from taking unfair advantage of consumers and other businesses by engaging in these practices. Antitrust law, on the other hand, seeks to protect businesses from anticompetitive behavior. An example of an anticompetitive behavior would be a business forming an agreement with another business to divide a market or to charge higher prices. Antitrust law seeks to protect businesses from these practices so that they can compete fairly. In North Carolina, unfair competition is regulated by the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. This act prohibits false advertising, false disparagement of other businesses, and deceptive pricing. Antitrust law is regulated by both federal and state law, including the North Carolina Antitrust Act. This act prohibits anticompetitive practices, such as price-fixing, market division, and price discrimination. It is important to understand the difference between unfair competition and antitrust law so that businesses can avoid engaging in practices that are prohibited by law. Both of these laws seek to protect businesses and keep the marketplace competitive.

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