The defendants point to one precedent for denying the protection of the legal monopoly of the copyright because of joinder in an illegal monopoly or combination in restraint of trade. The agreement is formed in England but several of its members reside in the United States and the business of the plaintiff in the United States is affected by the agreement. Copyright laws do not grant to copyright owners the privilege of combining in violation of otherwise valid state of federal laws. Obviously this is an agreement in restraint of trade. It has also agreed with the other members of the Guild to maintain minimum prices for each class of customer.
