Removing the Major League Baseball from Antitrust Law Exemption

自從1922年，美國職棒大聯賬(MLB)已經享有反托拉斯法之豁免權。這是當時美國聯邦高等法庭法官在Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore，Inc. v. National Baseball Clubs一案中所做出的宣判。雖然後來Curt Flood Act賦予大聯盟球員能在反托拉斯法下控告與其自身權利相關之訴訟案，但是對於球隊擴張(franchise expansion)、小聯盟棒球(Minor League Baseball)、及電視轉播權利(broadcasting right)等議題並無加以解除豁免權。本研究首先簡述反托拉斯法及勞資協商的演進過程、及討論MLB反托拉斯法豁免權的過程及相關之重要案例；再進一步提出移除MLB豁免權之論述。雖然對於是否將這些議題納入反托拉斯法之管轄仍有爭議，但以反托拉斯法來牽制MLB，應有助於重整美國職業棒球發展架構，且在自由市場機制運作下，聯盟的發展應會更健全、更具競爭力。

關鍵字

美國職棒大聯盟；反托拉斯法

並列摘要

The Major League Baseball (MLB) has been exempt from the antitrust laws since 1922, when the Supreme Court ruled in its favor in Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National Baseball Clubs. Although the Curt Flood Act gave Major League players the same right to sue under the antitrust laws challenging the Major League Baseballp's employment terms, yet the issues such as franchise expansion, Minor League Baseball, and broadcasting rights are still under the domain of the antitrust exemption. Whether or not these issues should be exempted from the antitrust laws is controversial. This paper provides an overview of the development of the antitrust law and collective bargaining, and the history of baseball exemption and landmark cases. Both sides of arguments of removing baseball exemption, as well as the related cases are presented Finally, this paper concludes with a suggestion that removing baseball completely from the antitrust exemption and rebuilding the infrastructure of baseball with the natural market forces is a more effective approach to benefit the business of the professional baseball.