Infringement is a violation of intellectual property rights consisting of the unauthorised use of a work, invention, trademark, or design protected by an exclusive right. It mainly concerns copyrights, patents, trademarks, and industrial designs.
Infringement can take various forms, such as the unauthorised reproduction, imitation, or copying of a protected work or product. For example, copying a literary, musical, or artistic work without the author’s permission constitutes infringement. Similarly, the manufacture or sale of products that reproduce a patented invention without the patent holder’s consent is also counterfeiting.
The penalties for infringement can be civil and/or criminal. In civil proceedings, the right holder may seek damages to compensate for losses suffered and demand that the unlawful use be stopped. In criminal proceedings, infringement can result in fines and imprisonment as it is considered a criminal offence.
Infringement is not limited to physical goods; it can also involve services, software, or digital works. It is often associated with fraudulent practices that harm the economic interests of creators and businesses.
In summary, infringement is an illegal act that infringes intellectual property rights and is punishable by law to protect creators, innovators, and consumers.