Final answer:
Discussing commissions with a competitor may constitute price fixing, a violation of U.S. antitrust laws, which the FTC and DOJ enforce to prevent anticompetitive practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a licensee discusses commissions with a competitor from another firm, they may be engaging in price fixing, which is a form of collusion. This behavior is illegal under the U.S. antitrust laws and is considered an anticompetitive practice that can lead to an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). These entities prohibit agreements that fix prices or output, rig bids, or share or divide markets by allocating customers, suppliers, territories, or lines of commerce. Engaging in these practices may lead to severe legal consequences, including fines and legal sanctions against the involved parties.