Noerr-Pennington doctrine

The Noerr-Pennington doctrine is a legal principle that protects entities, like companies or individuals, from being sued for trying to influence government decisions through petitions, lobbying, or other communication. Essentially, it encourages free speech and political participation by shielding these efforts from certain legal liabilities—such as antitrust claims—so long as the activities are aimed at seeking government action, not harming competition directly. This doctrine recognizes the importance of open dialogue in a democratic society, provided that the activities are genuine attempts to influence policy rather than efforts to unlawfully suppress competition.