Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 5.djvu/66

 112 STAT. 2824 PUBLIC LAW 105-297—OCT. 27, 1998 Public Law 105-297 105th Congress An Act Oct. 27, 1998 To require the general application of the antitrust laws to major league baseball, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Curt Flood Act of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 1998. 15 USC 1 note. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Curt Flood Act of 1998". 15 USC 27a note. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. It is the purpose of this legislation to state that major league baseball players are covered under the antitrust laws (i.e., that major league baseball players will have the same rights under the antitrust laws as do other professional athletes, e.g., football and basketball players), along with a provision that makes it clear that the passage of this Act does not change the application of the antitrust laws in any other context or with respect to any other person or entity. 15 USC 27a. SEC. 3. APPLICATION OF THE ANTITRUST LAWS TO PROFESSIONAL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. The Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. § 12 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: "SEC. 27. (a) Subject to subsections (b) through (d), the conduct, acts, practices, or agreements of persons in the business of organized professional major league baseball directly relating to or affecting employment of major league baseball players to play baseball at the major league level are subject to the antitrust laws to the same extent such conduct, acts, practices, or agreements would be subject to the antitrust laws if engaged in by persons in any other professional sports business affecting interstate commerce. "(b) No court shall rely on the enactment of this section as a basis for changing the application of the antitrust laws to any conduct, acts, practices, or agreements other than those set forth in subsection (a). This section does not create, permit or imply a cause of action by which to challenge under the antitrust laws, or otherwise apply the antitrust laws to, any conduct, acts, practices, or agreements that do not directly relate to or Eiffect employment of major league baseball players to play baseball at the major league level, including but not limited to— "(1) any conduct, acts, practices, or agreements of persons engaging in, conducting or participating in the business of organized professional baseball relating to or eiffecting employ- ment to play baseball at the minor league level, any organized
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