Transactions between strangers may benefit, but cannot injure those who are not parties to them.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) Contracts and transactions between third parties may incidentally benefit a non-party but can never impose a burden or obligation on him — cite this to defeat a claim that a stranger to an agreement is bound by its terms.

Where this applies

• Two companies sign a supply contract that incidentally lowers prices for a third-party retailer; the retailer benefits, but neither company can use the contract to impose obligations on the retailer who was not a party.
• A settlement between a manufacturer and a distributor includes a non-compete clause; a competing distributor who was not party to the agreement cannot be bound by its terms.
• A landlord and tenant agree to a lease modification that happens to improve a neighbor's parking access; the neighbor benefits, but the lease cannot impose any new duty on him because he is a stranger to the agreement.