What do antitrust laws aim to protect against?

Antitrust laws are designed specifically to promote fair competition in the marketplace and to protect consumers and competitors against unlawful practices that can lead to monopolies and restrains on trade. These laws prevent large companies from engaging in anti-competitive behavior that may harm consumer choice and lead to higher prices or reduced quality of goods and services. They provide a legal framework to address issues such as price-fixing, market allocation, and monopolization, ensuring that no single entity can dominate the market to the detriment of consumers and other businesses.

While trade secrets and intellectual property, competitive pricing, and consumer rights are important aspects of the business landscape, they are not the primary focus of antitrust laws. Instead, the essence of antitrust legislation is to maintain a competitive environment by prohibiting practices that unfairly limit competition or create monopolistic situations.