What is patent infringement, in terms of what a patent owner can do about it?
Reviewed by
Dominic Davies, patent attorney (20+ years)
· Last reviewed
September 7, 2026
A patent owner who identifies infringement can send a cease-and-desist letter, negotiate a licence, or file an infringement lawsuit seeking damages or an injunction. Enforcement is entirely the patent owner's responsibility; the patent office doesn't police infringement itself.
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