Antitrust and Trade Regulation laws aim to promote free competition in the marketplace. Agreements or cooperative efforts by two or more entities that affects or restrains competitors is illegal under these laws. The Sherman Act makes illegal any contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce and makes monopolies and attempts, combinations, or conspiracies to monopolize illegal. The Clayton Act regulate price discrimination, tying and exclusive dealing contracts, stock acquisition and interlocking directorates.
Ashland is a city in Boone County, Missouri, United States. (The term SoBoCo is sometimes used to refer to Southern Boone County. ) Ashland is part of the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,869 at the 2000 census. The population in 2006 was about 3,000, according to the city's website.