From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The doctrine of privity in the common law of contract provides that a contract cannot confer rights or impose obligations arising under it on any person or agent except the parties to it.The premise is that only parties to contracts should be able to sue to enforce their rights or claim damages as such.rivity of contract occurs only between the parties to the contract, most commonly contract of sale of goods or services. Horizontal privity arises when the benefits from a contract are to be given to a third party.