Hillsborough Florida Jury Instruction 3.3.2 Section 1, Per Se Violation Tying Agreement — Defense Of Justification is a legal instruction provided to jurors in Hillsborough County, Florida, regarding a specific type of antitrust violation known as a tying agreement. This instruction helps guide the jury in determining if the defendant can establish a defense of justification for their actions. A tying agreement refers to a situation where a seller conditions the sale of a particular product or service (the "tying product") upon the buyer's agreement to purchase a separate product or service (the "tied product"). The tying arrangement is deemed illegal per se when it unreasonably restrains trade or competition and has no valid business justification. Section 1 of the Hillsborough Florida Jury Instruction 3.3.2 focuses on the defense of justification that the defendant may present to counter the per se violation of a tying agreement. This defense of justification requires the defendant to provide evidence and arguments that their tying arrangement was indeed justified and within the bounds of lawful business practices. Some potential types of defense of justification for a per se violation tying agreement may include: 1. Demonstrating economic efficiency: The defendant may argue that the tying arrangement leads to increased efficiency, lower costs, or better product quality, which ultimately benefits consumers or the market as a whole. 2. Proving lack of market power: The defendant may attempt to show that they do not possess significant market power and the tying arrangement does not harm competition. 3. Showing legitimate business purpose: The defendant can assert that the tying arrangement serves a legitimate business purpose, such as promoting product integration, ensuring compatibility, or protecting intellectual property rights. 4. Establishing customer demand: The defendant may try to demonstrate that customers actually prefer or demand the tied product, making the tying arrangement a response to market demands rather than an anti-competitive practice. It is crucial for the jury to carefully evaluate the defendant's defense of justification and determine its validity based on the evidence and arguments presented during the trial. This jury instruction helps ensure a fair and informed decision regarding the per se violation tying agreement case in Hillsborough County, Florida.