<P> The law attempts to prevent the artificial raising of prices by restriction of trade or supply . `` Innocent monopoly '' , or monopoly achieved solely by merit , is perfectly legal , but acts by a monopolist to artificially preserve that status , or nefarious dealings to create a monopoly , are not . The purpose of the Sherman Act is not to protect competitors from harm from legitimately successful businesses , nor to prevent businesses from gaining honest profits from consumers , but rather to preserve a competitive marketplace to protect consumers from abuses . </P>
<P> The law attempts to prevent the artificial raising of prices by restriction of trade or supply . `` Innocent monopoly '' , or monopoly achieved solely by merit , is perfectly legal , but acts by a monopolist to artificially preserve that status , or nefarious dealings to create a monopoly , are not . The purpose of the Sherman Act is not to protect competitors from harm from legitimately successful businesses , nor to prevent businesses from gaining honest profits from consumers , but rather to preserve a competitive marketplace to protect consumers from abuses . </P>
a key motive behind the sherman act was
a key motive behind the sherman act was
The purpose of the Sherman Act is not to protect competitors from harm from legitimately successful businesses , nor to prevent businesses from gaining honest profits from consumers , but rather to preserve a competitive marketplace to protect consumers from abuses .
The purpose of the Sherman Act is not to protect competitors from harm from legitimately successful businesses , nor to prevent businesses from gaining honest profits from consumers , but rather to preserve a competitive marketplace to protect consumers from abuses .