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IEquity & legalUpdated 2 Nov 2026

Intellectual property infringement

Unauthorized use of someone else's intellectual property rights.

Definition

Intellectual property infringement is the unauthorized use of someone else's intellectual property rights. It shows up in the paperwork: ownership, rights, and what happens when things change. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.

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In the room

How the word shows up in a real conversation.

Two cofounders disagree until they define Intellectual property infringement. Once they agree it means “Unauthorized use of someone else's intellectual property rights”, the argument becomes a decision.

Common mistake

Using Intellectual property infringement as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.

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