§ 1291. Exemption from antitrust laws of agreements covering the telecasting of sports contests and the combining of professional football leagues

Statutory text

The antitrust laws, as defined in section 1 of the Act of October 15, 1914, as amended (38 Stat. 730) [15 U.S.C. 12], or in the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended (38 Stat. 717) [15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.], shall not apply to any joint agreement by or among persons engaging in or conducting the organized professional team sports of football, baseball, basketball, or hockey, by which any league of clubs participating in professional football, baseball, basketball, or hockey contests sells or otherwise transfers all or any part of the rights of such league’s member clubs in the sponsored telecasting of the games of football, baseball, basketball, or hockey, as the case may be, engaged in or conducted by such clubs. In addition, such laws shall not apply to a joint agreement by which the member clubs of two or more professional football leagues, which are exempt from income tax under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. 501(c)(6)], combine their operations in expanded single league so exempt from income tax, if such agreement increases rather than decreases the number of professional football clubs so operating, and the provisions of which are directly relevant thereto.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1961
Pub. L. 87–331 § 1 · 75 Stat. 732
Enacted · 15 U.S.C. § 1291
Pub. L. 87–331, § 1, Sept. 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 732
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 87–331, § 1, Sept. 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 732
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) such intercollegiate football contest is between institutions of higher learning both of which confer degrees upon students following completion of sufficient credit hours to equal a four-year course, and
1966
Pub. L. 89–800 § 6(b)(1) · 80 Stat. 1508
Changed · 15 U.S.C. § 1291
Pub. L. 89–800 extended exemption from antitrust laws to include a joint agreement by which the member clubs of two or more professional football leagues combine their operations in an expanded single league
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 89–800 extended exemption from antitrust laws to include a joint agreement by which the member clubs of two or more professional football leagues combine their operations in an expanded single league.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) Section 1 of the Act of September 30, 1961 (75 Stat. 732; 15 U.S.C. 1291), is amended by adding at the end thereof: “In addition, such laws shall not apply to a joint agreement by which the member clubs of two or more professional football leagues, which are exempt from income tax under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, combine their operations in expanded single league so exempt from income tax, if such agreement increases rather than decreases the number of professional football clubs so operating, and the provisions of which are directly relevant thereto.”
1986
Tax Reform Act of 1986
Pub. L. 99–514 § 2 · 100 Stat. 2085
Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 1291
Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 2. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986. (a) Redesignation of 1954 Code.— The Internal Revenue Title enacted August 16, 1954, as heretofore, hereby, or hereafter amended, may be cited as the “Internal Revenue Code of 1986”. (b) References in Laws, Etc.— Except when inappropriate, any reference in any law, Executive order, or other document— (1) to the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 shall include a reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and (2) to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall include a reference to the provisions of law formerly known as the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

3 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Trade Commission Act, referred to in text, is act Sept. 26, 1914, ch. 311, 38 Stat. 717, which is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 41 et seq.) of chapter 2 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 58 of this title and Tables.

Amendments1966–1986 · 2 rounds

1986

Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”.

1966

Pub. L. 89–800 extended exemption from antitrust laws to include a joint agreement by which the member clubs of two or more professional football leagues combine their operations in an expanded single league.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 87–331, Sept. 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 732, as amended, which enacted this chapter, is popularly known as the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 87–331, § 6, Sept. 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 732, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [this chapter] shall affect any cause of action existing on the effective date hereof [Sept. 30, 1961] in respect to the organized professional team sports of baseball, football, basketball, or hockey.”

Credits

1961–1986 · 3 acts

1961Pub. L. 87–331, § 1, Sept. 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 732
1966Pub. L. 89–800, § 6(b)(1), Nov. 8, 1966, 80 Stat. 1515
1986Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095.

Show as published

(Pub. L. 87–331, § 1, Sept. 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 732; Pub. L. 89–800, § 6(b)(1), Nov. 8, 1966, 80 Stat. 1515; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095.)