Which category includes disparagement that damages intangible property rights but not necessarily a product?

• A. Product disparagement
• B. Malice
• C. Injurious falsehood
• D. Invasion of privacy

Answer: (C)

Disparagement categories focus on what is harmed. Injurious falsehood covers false statements that disparage someone’s property or rights and cause financial loss, and this can include intangible property rights like patents, copyrights, trademarks, or licenses. The key point is that the falsehood targets the value or legitimacy of those rights rather than a physical product itself. For example, saying a competitor’s patent is invalid or that their license is unenforceable can deter licensing or investment, harming intangible assets even if no specific product is attacked.

Product disparagement, by contrast, targets a product’s quality or safety and aims to reduce its sales. Malice refers to the defendant’s intent or bad faith, which is a factor in some tort claims but does not define the category. Invasion of privacy deals with wrongs against a person’s private life, not disparagement of property rights.