Legal Definitions - independent development

Definition:Independentdevelopment is a defense against industrial-espionage charges where the user proves that the intellectual property was discovered or created independently. This includes trademarks, symbols, inventions, and other types of intellectual property.

Example: Let's say that two companies are working on developing a new type of smartphone. Company A releases their smartphone first and Company B accuses them of stealing their design. However, if Company A can prove that they developed their smartphone independently and did not copy Company B's design, then they have a defense of independent development.

Explanation: This example illustrates how independent development can be used as a defense against accusations of intellectual property theft. If a company can prove that they came up with their idea on their own, then they cannot be accused of stealing someone else's intellectual property.