The doctrine of ancillary restrictions as a delimitation tool and an absorption principle: twin notions but not identical twins

Contrary to the general view, `ancillary restrictions designate two separate conceptions, which should be treated as separate doctrines. As a `delimitation tool, ancillarity separates `naked and `ancillary restrictions based on `reasonable necessity. As an `absorption principle, ancillarity is a rule of thumb that screens out certain lawful agreements based on the idea that a lawful main transaction (or the legality of the main transaction) absorbs all objectively necessary (indispensable) restrictions.