What does infringement mean?
Infringement means a violation of a legally, contractually, or morally protected right. Its most familiar use is in intellectual property law: copyright infringement involves unauthorized copying or exploitation of protected work, patent infringement involves using a patented invention without authority, and trademark infringement involves unauthorized use likely to confuse consumers or dilute a protected mark. The word can also describe a breach of contract or an intrusion into someone's property or privacy. In these contexts, infringement is serious and normally has legal consequences, although the term may sometimes be used figuratively for any substantial disregard for someone else's rights. To say that infringement has occurred is to identify an unauthorized violation; to say that someone infringes a right is to describe the action itself. The related verb is infringe, while infringer denotes the person or organization accused of violating that right.
nounAn act that violates a law, agreement, or legal right, especially copyright, patent, trademark, or other intellectual property rights. It may also refer generally to the unauthorized intrusion upon someone's rights or property.
- A violation of a legal right, especially intellectual property rights such as copyright, patent, or trademark.
- An unauthorized intrusion upon someone's property, privacy, or other protected interests.
- A breach of a law, agreement, or binding obligation.
- The legal claim or assertion that a protected right has been violated.
"The company sought legal remedy for the infringement of its trademark."
"Unauthorized reproduction of the photographs constituted copyright infringement."
"The tenant's infringement of the lease agreement resulted in a dispute."
"Patent infringement can lead to damages or an injunction."
Plural forms are used when referring to separate violations, claims, or acts of infringement.
"The company has reported several copyright infringements this year."
Infringement is where intellectual property becomes an issue: the idea may be yours, but copying it can be someone else's offense.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of infringement
Infringement entered English in the early 17th century through the verb infringe, which was borrowed from Anglo-French and ultimately from Latin infringere, meaning to break in, encroach upon, or violate. The Latin verb was formed from in- and frangere, 'to break'. The modern legal sense developed alongside the verb's earlier meaning of entering or encroaching on another person's land or rights. Related English words include infringer and infraction, while fracture and fragment descend from the same Latin root of breaking.
Related word forms
How infringement is actually used
In modern usage, infringement most often concerns intellectual property or another legally protected right. The term is primarily legal and formal, although it can be used more generally for serious encroachments on rights.
Easily confused with infringement
Infringement names the violation or offending act, whereas infringe names the action or the legal claim against someone who commits it.
An intrusion is an unauthorized physical or figurative entry, while an infringement usually involves violating a legal, contractual, or intellectual right.