Final answer:
The direct answer to the multiple-choice question is 'c. a research partnership.' Research partnerships between companies allow for collaboration in developing new technologies and are not inherently antitrust violations unless they lead to anti-competitive behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research partnerships are formed between two or more companies to collaborate on developing new technologies or products. These partnerships allow for the sharing of resources, expertise, and risk associated with research and development. A partnership of this nature is not necessarily an antitrust violation as long as it doesn't lead to anti-competitive practices. Antitrust laws are designed to prevent businesses from actions that can reduce competition, such as forming cartels, monopolistic mergers, and engaging in restrictive practices.
For instance, if a company has grown to monopolize a market because of a superior product or a legitimate patent, this isn't illegal under U.S. antitrust laws. However, these laws do allow regulators to impose conditions on mergers to ensure competition is sustained, as illustrated by the 2006 condition on Johnson & Johnson to divest certain brands after acquiring Pfizer's consumer health division.