Puerto Rico Jury Instruction — 3.3.1 Section 1, Per Se Violation Conspiracy To Fix Prices — Includes Alternative Rule of Reason Instruction provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the legal principles surrounding price-fixing conspiracies in Puerto Rico. This instruction serves as a guide for judges to convey the law to jurors in cases where defendants are charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix prices in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The instruction starts by explaining the legal standard for establishing a per se violation of the Sherman Act. It emphasizes that certain agreements among competitors are deemed illegal without further inquiry into their actual competitive effects. In the context of price-fixing, the instruction describes how an agreement or understanding among competitors to set prices at a certain level is inherently anticompetitive and violates the law. Additionally, the instruction includes an alternative rule of reason instruction, which serves as an alternative legal framework for assessing the legality of price-fixing agreements. Under the rule of reason, the court examines the actual competitive impact of the alleged price-fixing agreement and weighs its potential for pro competitive benefits against its anticompetitive effects. This instruction enables jurors to consider the broader economic context and circumstances of the alleged conspiracy. The Puerto Rico Jury Instruction — 3.3.1 Section 1 may also include specific variations or enhancements based on the facts and circumstances of each individual case. For instance, the instruction might outline the elements that the government has to prove to establish a per se violation or explain the burden of proof for the defense to justify the alleged price-fixing agreement under the rule of reason. In summary, Puerto Rico Jury Instruction — 3.3.1 Section 1, Per Se Violation Conspiracy To Fix Prices — Includes Alternative Rule of Reason Instruction provides a detailed explanation of the legal principles governing price-fixing conspiracies. By presenting the per se violation standard and an alternative rule of reason instruction, this guidance helps jurors understand and evaluate the evidence presented in cases involving alleged illegal price-fixing activities in Puerto Rico.