Essential Facilities Doctrine

/ɪˈsɛnʃəl fəˈsɪlɪtiz ˈdɒktrɪn/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A legal principle requiring a monopolist controlling a facility essential to competitors to provide access on reasonable terms to prevent anticompetitive exclusion.
    The court applied the essential facilities doctrine to compel the company to grant access to its critical infrastructure.

Forms

  • essential facilities doctrine

Commentary

The doctrine typically arises in antitrust contexts and demands careful factual analysis; overbroad application may discourage investment in infrastructure.

This glossary is for general informational and educational purposes only. Definitions are jurisdiction-agnostic but reflect terminology and concepts primarily drawn from English and American legal traditions. Nothing herein constitutes legal advice or creates a lawyer-client relationship. Users should consult qualified counsel for advice on specific matters or jurisdictions.

Draft confidently with Amicus

Create, negotiate, and sign agreements in one secure workspace—invite collaborators, track revisions, and keep audit-ready records automatically.

Open the Amicus app