Legal Definitions - aid or abet infringement

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.