15 U.S.C. § 6307a — Contract requirements

Page 2235 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 6307c pervising boxing commission shall report the re- sults of such boxing match and any related sus- pensions to each boxer registry. (Pub. L. 104–272, § 8, Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3311.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective July 1, 1997, see section 23(2) of Pub. L. 104–272, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title. § 6307a. Contract requirements Within 2 years after May 26, 2000, the Associa- tion of Boxing Commissions (ABC) shall develop and shall approve by a vote of no less than a ma- jority of its member State boxing commis- sioners, guidelines for minimum contractual provisions that should be included in bout agree- ments and boxing contracts. It is the sense of the Congress that State boxing commissions should follow these ABC guidelines. (Pub. L. 104–272, § 9, as added Pub. L. 106–210, § 4(2), May 26, 2000, 114 Stat. 322.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 9 of Pub. L. 104–272 was renumbered section 17 and is classified to section 6308 of this title. § 6307b. Protection from coercive contracts (a) General rule (1)(A) A contract provision shall be considered to be in restraint of trade, contrary to public policy, and unenforceable against any boxer to the extent that it— (i) is a coercive provision described in sub- paragraph (B) and is for a period greater than 12 months; or (ii) is a coercive provision described in sub- paragraph (B) and the other boxer under con- tract to the promoter came under that con- tract pursuant to a coercive provision de- scribed in subparagraph (B). (B) A coercive provision described in this sub- paragraph is a contract provision that grants any rights between a boxer and a promoter, or between promoters with respect to a boxer, if the boxer is required to grant such rights, or a boxer’s promoter is required to grant such rights with respect to a boxer to another promoter, as a condition precedent to the boxer’s participa- tion in a professional boxing match against an- other boxer who is under contract to the pro- moter. (2) This subsection shall only apply to con- tracts entered into after May 26, 2000. (3) No subsequent contract provision extend- ing any rights or compensation covered in para- graph (1) shall be enforceable against a boxer if the effective date of the contract containing such provision is earlier than 3 months before the expiration of the relevant time period set forth in paragraph (1). (b) Promotional rights under mandatory bout contracts No boxing service provider may require a boxer to grant any future promotional rights as a requirement of competing in a professional boxing match that is a mandatory bout under the rules of a sanctioning organization. (c) Protection from coercive contracts with broadcasters Subsection (a) of this section applies to any contract between a commercial broadcaster and a boxer, or granting any rights with respect to that boxer, involving a broadcast in or affecting interstate commerce, regardless of the broad- cast medium. For the purpose of this subsection, any reference in subsection (a)(1)(B) to ‘‘pro- moter’’ shall be considered a reference to ‘‘com- mercial broadcaster’’. (Pub. L. 104–272, § 10, as added Pub. L. 106–210, § 4(2), May 26, 2000, 114 Stat. 322.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 10 of Pub. L. 104–272 was renumbered section 18 and is classified to section 6309 of this title. § 6307c. Sanctioning organizations (a) Objective criteria Within 2 years after May 26, 2000, the Associa- tion of Boxing Commissions shall develop and shall approve by a vote of no less than a major- ity of its member State boxing commissioners, guidelines for objective and consistent written criteria for the ratings of professional boxers. It is the sense of the Congress that sanctioning bodies and State boxing commissions should fol- low these ABC guidelines. (b) Appeals process A sanctioning organization shall not be enti- tled to receive any compensation, directly or in- directly, in connection with a boxing match, until it provides the boxers with notice that the sanctioning organization shall, within 7 days after receiving a request from a boxer ques- tioning that organization’s rating of the boxer— (1) provide to the boxer a written expla- nation of the organization’s criteria, its rating of the boxer, and the rationale or basis for its rating (including a response to any specific questions submitted by the boxer); and (2) submit a copy of its explanation to the Association of Boxing Commissions. (c) Notification of change in rating A sanctioning organization shall not be enti- tled to receive any compensation, directly or in- directly, in connection with a boxing match, until, with respect to a change in the rating of a boxer previously rated by such organization in the top 10 boxers, the organization— (1) posts a copy, within 7 days of such change, on its Internet website or home page, if any, including an explanation of such change, for a period of not less than 30 days; and (2) provides a copy of the rating change and explanation to an association to which at least a majority of the State boxing commissions belong. (d) Public disclosure (1) Federal Trade Commission filing A sanctioning organization shall not be enti- tled to receive any compensation directly or