infringement

/ɪnˈfrɪndʒmənt/
noun
  1. The act of breaking a law, rule, or agreement.
    • The company was fined for an infringement of safety regulations.
    • The treaty prohibits any infringement of the border.
    • Any infringement of the school's dress code will result in a warning.
  2. The act of violating someone's legal rights, especially copyright or patent.
    • Uploading a movie without permission is a copyright infringement.
    • The artist sued the company for infringement of her trademark.
    • They faced a lawsuit for patent infringement over their new phone design.
  3. An action that limits or interferes with someone's freedom or privacy.
    • Many people see the new surveillance law as an infringement on personal privacy.
    • The curfew was considered an infringement of the residents' freedom.
    • He argued that the search was an infringement of his civil liberties.