An antitrust lawsuit is a legal action taken against a company or companies that are believed to be engaging in anticompetitive practices that restrain trade and the free market. The goal of antitrust laws is to promote competition by limiting the market power of any particular firm. Antitrust laws are a collection of mostly federal laws that regulate the conduct and organization of businesses to prevent unjustified monopolies and promote competition. The three main federal antitrust laws in the United States are the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act. These laws provide for both civil and criminal enforcement, with civil antitrust enforcement occurring through lawsuits filed by the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and private parties who have been harmed by an antitrust violation. Private parties can also bring suits to enforce the antitrust laws, and most antitrust suits are brought by businesses and individuals seeking damages for violations of the Sherman or Clayton Act. If a company is found to have violated antitrust laws, it may be required to pay damages, change its business practices, or divest itself of certain assets.