commercially significant noninfringing use
commercially significant noninfringing use. Intellectual property. The routine use of a product in a way that does not infringe intellectual-property rights; the judicial test for determining whether the sale of a product amounts to contributory infringement. • If the product (such as a videotape recorder) can be used in a way that does not infringe those rights (such as recording a program in order to watch it at a later time), then its sale cannot be enjoined, or its manufacturer subjected to a court-imposed royalty. See Sony Corp. of Am. v. Universal City Studios, Inc., 464 U.S. 417, 442, 104 S.Ct. 774, 789–90 (1984) (Stevens, J.). — Also termed Sony doctrine; substantial noninfringing use. Cf. PRIMARY PURPOSE OR EFFECT.
