---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 15g"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "15g"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/15g"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Monopolies and Combinations in Restraint of Trade"
---

# §15g. Definitions


For the purposes of sections [15c](/usc/15/15c.md), [15d](/usc/15/15d.md), [15e](/usc/15/15e.md), and [15f](/usc/15/15f.md) of this title:

- (1) The term “State attorney general” means the chief legal officer of a [State](#2), or any other [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) authorized by [State](#2) law to bring actions under [section 15c of this title](/usc/15/15c.md), and includes the Corporation Counsel of the District of Columbia, except that such term does not include any [person](/usc/15/7a.md?p=6) employed or retained on—
  - (A) a contingency fee based on a percentage of the monetary relief awarded under this section; or
  - (B) any other contingency fee basis, unless the amount of the award of a reasonable attorney’s fee to a prevailing plaintiff is determined by the court under [section 15c(d)(1) of this title](/usc/15/15c.md?p=d-1).
- (2) The term “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
- (3) The term “natural persons” does not include proprietorships or partnerships.

## Source credit

(Oct. 15, 1914, ch. 323, § 4G, as added Pub. L. 94–435, title III, § 301, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1396.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Injuries sustained prior to Sept. 30, 1976, not covered by this section, see section 304 of Pub. L. 94–435, set out as a note under section 15c of this title.