Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: AID OR ABET INFRINGEMENT
Definition: When someone helps or encourages another person to break the rules of a patent, it is called aiding or abetting infringement. This is against the law and can be punished under the Patent Act. It is different from infringement in the inducement, which is when someone encourages another person to infringe without actually helping them do it.
Definition: Aiding or abetting infringement refers to actively inducing or assisting another person in committing patent infringement through some affirmative act or conduct. This is actionable under § 271(b) of the Patent Act.
Example: If a company knowingly provides a component to another company that is used in a product that infringes on a patent, they are aiding and abetting infringement.
Explanation: In this example, the company is actively assisting the other company in committing patent infringement by providing a component that is used in the infringing product. This is considered aiding and abetting infringement and is actionable under § 271(b) of the Patent Act.