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In the landmark antitrust case of United States v. Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., what were the main arguments presented by both the government and the defense, and how did the court ultimately rule

In the landmark antitrust case of United States v. Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., the main arguments presented by the government were that the defendant companies, Bausch & Lomb Optical Company and SoftLite Lens Company, had violated the Sherman Act by engaging in anticompetitive practices. The government alleged that the defendants had agreed to fix prices, allocate markets, and restrict output, all in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act.

The defense, on the other hand, argued that the agreements between the defendants were not intended to restrain trade, but rather to promote competition and efficiency in the industry. They claimed that the agreements were necessary to prevent ruinous competition and to maintain stability in the industry.

The court ultimately ruled in favor of the government, finding that the defendants had indeed violated the Sherman Act. The court held that the agreements between the defendants were inherently anticompetitive and that they had the effect of restraining trade. The court also found that the defendants had engaged in a conspiracy to fix prices, allocate markets, and restrict output, all in violation of the Sherman Act.

The court's decision in United States v. Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. was a significant one, as it helped to establish the principle that agreements among competitors to fix prices, allocate markets, and restrict output are per se violations of the Sherman Act. This principle has been followed in numerous subsequent cases, and has played an important role in shaping the law of antitrust.

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