- restraint of trade
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restraint of trade1: an act, fact, or means of curbing the free flow of commerce or tradecovenant not to compete with an employer after leaving is in restraint of trade and must be reasonable to be enforced2: an attempt or intent to eliminate or stifle competition, to effect a monopoly, to maintain prices artificially, or otherwise to hamper or obstruct the course of trade and commerce as it would be if left to the control of natural and economic forcesthe Sherman Antitrust Act declared every contract, combination, and conspiracy in restraint of trade to be illegal; also: the means (as a contract or combination) employed in such an endeavor see also horizontal restraint, per se rule 2, rule of reason, vertical restraint; sherman antitrust act in the important laws section
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
- restraint of trade
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n.Contracts or agreements between businesses that restrict free competition, control the market, and encourage monopolies; see also Sherman Antitrust Act
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
- restraint of trade
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Any activity (including agreements among competitors or companies doing business with each other) that tends to limit trade, sales, and transportation in interstate commerce or has a substantial impact on interstate commerce. Most restraints of trade are illegal under various antitrust statutes. Some state laws also outlaw local restraints on competitive business activity. (See also: monopoly)Category: Business, LLCs & Corporations
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
- restraint of trade
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The principle that a covenant restricting the freedom of an individual, or organisation, to do as they or it likes will be void unless it is:• Designed to protect legitimate business interests.• No wider than reasonably necessary to protect those interests.Related links
Practical Law Dictionary. Glossary of UK, US and international legal terms. www.practicallaw.com. 2010.
- restraint of trade
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Contracts or combinations that tend, or are designed, to eliminate or stifle competition, create a monopoly, artificially maintain prices, or otherwise hamper or obstruct the course of trade as it would be carried on if it were left to the control of natural economic forces.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
- restraint of trade
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Contracts or combinations that tend, or are designed, to eliminate or stifle competition, create a monopoly, artificially maintain prices, or otherwise hamper or obstruct the course of trade as it would be carried on if it were left to the control of natural economic forces.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
- restraint of trade
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n.in antitrust law, any activity (including agreements among competitors or companies doing business with each other) which tends to limit trade, sales and transportation in interstate commerce or has a substantial impact on interstate commerce. Most of these actions are illegal under the various antitrust statutes. Some state laws also outlaw local restraints on competitive business activity.
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.