Legal Definitions - acquiescence

Definition: Acquiescence is when someone passively accepts or gives implied consent to an action or situation.

1. In patents, acquiescence refers to a competitor's inaction or acceptance of a patent's validity. For example, if a company takes a license or tries to design around a patent, it can be used as evidence that the patent is valid and enforceable.

2. In international law, acquiescence is when a country does not protest against a foreign claim that would normally require a response to protect their rights. This can result in the acceptance of the claim as legally binding.

Both examples illustrate how acquiescence involves passive acceptance or inaction. In patents, a competitor's lack of action can be used as evidence of the patent's validity. In international law, a country's failure to protest against a foreign claim can result in the acceptance of that claim as legally binding. In both cases, acquiescence implies consent or acceptance of a situation or action.