Inspiration Of "The Rule Of Reason" In American Antitrust Law To The Legislation Of Chinese Anti-monopoly Law

Since　1890　when　the　Sherman　Act　was　promulgated,　the　American　antitrust　laws　have　undergone　a　process　of　nearly　one　hundred　years　of　rapid　development.　The　rule　of　reason,　as　one　of　the　judicial　doctrine,　has　been　playing　an　increasingly　important　role　in　this　process.　In　this　thesis,　I　try　to　discuss　the　issues　related　to　the　application　of　the　rule　of　reason　in　American　antitrust　cases　and　its　inspiration　to　the　legislation　of　Chinese　anti-monopoly　law.　　　Part　I　discusses　the　definition　of　the　"rule　of　reason"　and　analyzes　the　scope　of　its　application　and　three　elements　of　reasonableness,　namely:　substantial　competitive　harm,　legitimacy　and　reasonably　necessary.　Thereafter　this　part　discusses　the　definition　of　the　per　se　rule　and　the　relation　between　the　rule　of　reason　and　the　per　se　rule.　　Part　II　focuses　on　specific　application　of　the　rule　of　reason,　in　different　kinds　of　cases　including　those　concerning　ancillary　or　naked　restraints,　horizontal　or　vertical　restraints　and　mergers.　And　then,　I　try　to　find　out　potential　troubles　in　applying　the　reasonableness　rule　and　what　causes　these　problems.　　Finally　in　this　part,　I　mean　to　disclose　the　implications　of　this　rule　on　other　countries　and　the　trends　that　this　rule　will　develop.　　　Part　III　explores　the　inspiration　of　the　rule　of　reason　to　the　legislation　of　Chinese　anti-monopoly　law.　Chinese　anti-monopoly　law　has　not　been　promulgated　yet　and　current　regulations　are　too　simple　and　general　to　be　applied.　Therefore,　I　suggest　that　the　proposed　legislation　should　adopt　the　ideas　underlying　the　reasonableness　rule　and　what　should　be　specifically　taken　for　granted.