The playing field between manufacturers and their independent sales representatives has been — and continues to be in many cases — patently uneven. In order to level the playing field, many states have passed specific laws protecting sales representatives from heavy-handed manufacturers. As of 2007, 38 of the 50 United States had laws on the books providing special rules for a non-salaried independent sales representative doing business with manufacturers (condolences to Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming).

Not surprisingly, each state’s laws are different and specific to the actions