What happens when someone infringes a patent?

When a patent is infringed, the patent holder—who possesses the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling their invention—may seek legal recourse to protect their property rights.12

Upon the request of the patentee, a court has the authority to intervene in the following ways:

• Compel Damages: The court can require the infringer to pay financial compensation to the patent holder for the unauthorized use of the technology.1
• Injunctive Relief: The court can order the infringer to refrain from any further infringement, effectively stopping them from continuing to make, use, or sell the patented invention in the future.1

These enforcement procedures are essential to the integrity of intellectual-property law, which is designed to ensure that inventors maintain control over their original contributions and receive the benefits of their work.12