What does it mean if a patent is characterized as “infringed”?

When a patent is characterized as “infringed,” it specifically means that the rights granted by the patent are violated by another party. This occurs when someone makes, uses, sells, or offers to sell a patented invention without the permission of the patent holder. Infringement indicates that the actions of the infringing party are unauthorized and violate the exclusive rights that the patent grants to the patent owner.

Infringement can be a significant concern for patent holders because they have the right to take legal action against those who infringe upon their patent rights. Recognizing infringement is critical in the enforcement of patent rights and in determining any potential damages or remedies that the patent holder may seek through legal proceedings.

The other options do not accurately reflect the meaning of infringement. A patent being “no longer valid” refers to circumstances where the patent has expired or is otherwise unenforceable, while “renewal” typically does not apply to patents in the same way it might to trademarks. Licensing a patent indicates a business arrangement that allows another party to exploit the patent, which does not constitute infringement.