Investopedia对“covenant not to sue”作出了如下解释：

“A covenant not to sue is a legal agreement that obliges a party that could seek damages to refrain from suing the party that it has cause against. A covenant not to sue may indicate that the potential claimant will not sue in perpetuity, or may indicate that the claimant may postpone a lawsuit for a defined period of time.

Covenants not to sue are used to settle specific legal issues outside of the court system. Parties may enter into this type of agreement to prevent a protracted, expensive lawsuit. In exchange for the covenant, the party that could seek damages may be provided with compensation or may be given assurances that the other party in the agreement will conduct a specific action.”

《元照英美法词典》将其译为“不起诉协议”，因为，根据该协议，订约时有诉权的一方当事人同意不行使诉权起诉对方当事人。这种协议并不消灭诉因；而且即使当事人在协议中没有作特别保留，他也可以继续追究其他共同侵权人的责任。

不起诉协议可能会注明是永久不起诉，还是在特定期限内不起诉。签订该协议可能是为了避免陷入耗时耗力耗钱的诉讼中，因此，作为交换，有权寻求赔偿的一方可能会获得相应的赔偿，或另一方保证采取特定的行动。

需要注意的是，“covenant not to sue”与“release of liability”有所不同，后者是对已知的权利的放弃，诉因消灭；而前者并非对已知的权利的放弃，诉因也没有消灭，只是对受害方的诉讼权施加了合同限制。

例句：

原文：

A. When a release or a covenant not to sue is given in good faith to one of two or more persons liable for the same injury to a person or property, or the same wrongful death:

1. It shall not discharge any other person from liability for the injury, property damage or wrongful death unless its terms so provide; but any amount recovered against the other person or any one of them shall be reduced by any amount stipulated by the covenant or the release, or in the amount of the consideration paid for it, whichever is the greater. In determining the amount of consideration given for a covenant not to sue or release for a settlement which consists in whole or in part of future payment or payments, the court shall consider expert or other evidence as to the present value of the settlement consisting in whole or in part of future payment or payments. A release or covenant not to sue given pursuant to this section shall not be admitted into evidence in the trial of the matter but shall be considered by the court in determining the amount for which judgment shall be entered; and

2. It shall discharge the person to whom it is given from all liability for contribution to any other person liable for the same injury to person or property or the same wrongful death.

（§ 8.01-35.1.A., Article 3, Chapter 3, Title 8.01, Code of Virginia）

译文：

A. 若一方基于善意向对同一人身伤害或财产损害或同一不当致死负有责任的两人或以上中的一人出具放弃文书或不起诉协议，则：

1. 除非其条款另有规定，否则不得免除任何其他人对该等伤害或财产损害或不当致死承担的责任；但是，向其他人或其中任何一人收回的金额应减去不起诉协议或放弃文书中规定的任何金额或为此支付的对价金额（以较高者为准）。在确定就赔偿（包括全部或部分未来付款）支付的不起诉协议或放弃文书的对价金额时，法庭应考虑有关赔偿（包括全部或部分未来付款）现值的专家证据或其他证据。在案件审理过程中，根据本条出具的放弃文书或不起诉协议不得被接纳为证据，但是，法庭在确定判决金额时应予以考虑；及

2. 应免除向其出具放弃文书或不起诉协议之人被对同一人身伤害或财产损害或同一不当致死负有责任的任何其他人请求分摊的所有责任。

来源：

Investopedia；

《元照英美法词典》