# Declaratory judgment

A lawsuit in which a company that fears being sued for infringement asks a court to rule first — typically that it does not infringe, or that the patent is invalid. It lets an accused party control the timing and forum instead of waiting to be sued.

**Full entry:** https://patentbrief.org/glossary/declaratory-judgment

**All patent terms:** https://patentbrief.org/glossary

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. A plain-English glossary of US patent terms._