Refusing To Accept Ads -trade Restriction
I own a gun parts company.
A few years ago I got into an argument with the owner of a little gun user forum. At the time I was running a banner ad. He got mad at me and kicked me off his site and killed my ad. Several years have gone by, and now his forum has grown into one of the largest gun owner forum sites around, and they currently have over 25 companies running banner ads and hundreds of paid members and have become a honest to god for profit incorporated business.
My business also has grown into one of the largest speciality gun part stores on the web.
I recently attempted to buy a banner ad and was told my business was not welcome there, even though my main two compeititors (who have a financial stake in the forum) do run ads there.
So here is the question. Is it legal for them to refuse to let me purchase ad space on there forum, and do I have any legal remedy that would force them into selling me ad space? restraint of trade?
Thanks!
Re: Refusing To Accept Ads -trade Restriction
Quote:
Is it legal for them to refuse to let me purchase ad space on there forum,
Yes. There's no law that says that a given venue must provide equal time for all advertisers, nor is there one that says a private business must accept all comers.
Quote:
and do I have any legal remedy that would force them into selling me ad space?
No.
Quote:
restraint of trade?
Definitely no. They are not doing anything that prevents you from doing business. They just don't want to sell ads to their competitor.
You wouldn't post ads for their goods in your shop, would you?