infringement

noun

in·​fringe·​ment in-ˈfrinj-mənt 

1

: the act of infringing : violation

2

: an encroachment or trespass on a right or privilege

Synonyms

• breach
• contravention
• infraction
• transgression
• trespass
• violation

Examples of infringement in a Sentence

any government action limiting freedom of speech is an infringement of the U.S. Constitution

Recent Examples on the Web

However, plaintiff’s claim suffers another fatal flaw that mandates dismissal at the pleading stage: the Copyright Act expressly provides that only a legal or beneficial owner of an exclusive copyright right may sue for infringement. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024

The filing also details the company's legal proceedings, including a favorable judgment in a trademark infringement lawsuit. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

According to a Sunday filing in New York federal court that was reviewed by USA TODAY on Monday, Jack and Meg White — who dissolved the band in 2011 — voluntarily dismissed the copyright infringement lawsuit. —Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 12 Nov. 2024

In the ruling, the court rejected an infringement lawsuit filed by Structured Asset Sales, a company that owns a small stake in the rights to Gaye’s hit. —Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

infringement

noun

in·​fringe·​ment

: the act or an instance of infringing

especially : the unauthorized use of copyrighted or patented material or of a trademark, trade name, or trade dress see also equivalent, fair use

Note: Infringement of a trademark, trade name, or trade dress involves use of one by the infringer that is the same as that of the owner or so similar that it is likely to deceive or to cause confusion or mistake on the part of the average purchaser. Infringement of a copyright involves the copying of a material and substantial portion of the protected work. If the alleged infringer denies copying, the copyright holder may be able to prove infringement with circumstantial evidence of the infringer's access to the protected work and of similarities between the two works.