This it is claimed to have done here, for it has contracted with the other members of the Guild to limit production of each engraving to a specified number and to destroy the plates after either the number specified or a specified period of time from the first production has been reached.
It has also agreed with the other members of the Guild to maintain minimum prices for each class of customer. Obviously this is an agreement in restraint of trade. The agreement is formed in England but several of its members reside in the United States and the business of the plaintiff in the United States is affected by the agreement.Ĭopyright laws do not grant to copyright owners the privilege of combining in violation of otherwise valid state of federal laws. The defendants point to one precedent for denying the protection of the legal monopoly of the copyright because of joinder in an illegal monopoly or combination in restraint of trade.
