Restraint of trade is a restriction on a person's freedom to conduct business in a specified or unspecified location for a specified or unspecified length of time. Such restrictions are normally enacted by contracts. Generally however， such contracts are void on the ground of illegality， and cannot be enforceable unless they are reasonable in the interests of both contracting parties and of the public at large. Contracts between employer and employee and contracts for the sale of businesses which include terms restrictive of free business conduct are subject to this rule.
    【注】 Restraint of trade（競業(yè)限制），主要出現(xiàn)在雇傭關系上。很多時候，雇主會在雇傭合約上加上條款，限制雇員在離職以后，往別處地方工作或限制雇員在某特定時間內(nèi)為其它雇主工作。這些限制有可能因地域或時間長短等而被法庭裁定無效。