infringen

Infringen is a Dutch verb meaning to infringe, encroach, or violate. It is used to describe actions that breach legal rights, rules, contracts, or physical or territorial boundaries. In legal contexts, it commonly refers to violations of intellectual property rights (such as copyrights, patents, or trademarks), contractual obligations, or treaty commitments. In everyday language, it can describe any improper crossing of another’s rights or boundaries, such as invading someone’s privacy or trespassing on property.

Etymology: The verb derives from Latin infringere (to break in, break through) and entered Dutch through historical contact with Germanic and Romance languages. It is cognate with the English verb infringe and related terms such as infringement. In Dutch, the noun form for infringement is more commonly expressed as inbreuk, though infringen remains the standard verb for describing the act of violating rights or rules.

Usage context: Infringen is used across legal, policy, and everyday speech to denote violations of rights, obligations, or boundaries. Typical topics include copyright, patent, and trademark protection, contract compliance, and regulatory standards, as well as non-legal contexts where someone oversteps another’s private or physical space.