<br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="Ih2E3d">
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</div>Companies discussing their rates publicly with other companies, in<br>
the US, can be considered an element of illegal price fixing -- Even<br>
when fixing prices is not the intent of the discussion. If a<br>
conversation on this list indirectly led to some<br>
companies/consultants raising their rates to be in-line with their<br>
competition, it could cross the line and become illegal.<br>
</blockquote><div><br>That's different than saying sharing your rates with others is illegal. Yes, it can be an element in price fixing, but that doesn't mean it is illegal in itself.<br> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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It is best to simply avoid discussions of rates on public lists if<br>
the people posting information operate within the US.<br>
</blockquote><div><br><br>I know that most people believe this, but I'd still like to see any evidence of anyone every being prosecuted for doing this or anything that actually says sharing rates among competitors is illegal. This seems especially dubious in a field like ours where we are subcontracting to one another. If it's illegal to share rates with your competitors, anytime I try and subcontract work and ask the "competitor" what his rate is I may be violating the law. <br>
<br>And I think it's normal for lawyers to play it safe and warn against things that could possibly lead to a lawsuit. <br><br>And it's normal for list moderators to want to play it safe and not take chances.<br>
<br>But I'm far from convinced that its illegal to share your rates with your competitors,one to one or on a mailing list. <br><br>Sam<br> <br><br> </div></div><br>