Legal Question in Business Law in California

Re: Convention Exhibitor Contract

There may be an issue as to whether California or Florida law would apply to the issue, or possibly both to different aspects; or perhaps the First Amendment (free speech) to the U.S. Constitution. I can't comment on Florida law, but on the assumption that California or federal law applies to the whole issue, here's what I think.

If the trade association and the convention are private, voluntary organizations, they can probably make demands of this sort without abridging your rights. There would be a possible argument that the restriction was an unreasonable and therefore illegal anti-competitive restriction on trade, but I think the restriction is more likely than not to be found reasonable and therefore not illegal.

If on the other hand the organization is government-supported and/or membership is mandatory under some law (like a state bar association, or it performs some regulatory function, it's more likely that a case could be made that the restriction violates the First Amendment. (You need some kind of government link to invoke the 1st.)