Exactly this. If I recall, there’s a principle in at least some IP* law suggesting that each time you don’t defend your absolute ownership of the IP, you are making it easier for others legally get away with infringing in future.

I know just enough to imagine this could wildly differ between patent, trademark, copyright, and whatever other realms there are in IP.

*Intellectual Property, for anyone unfamiliar with or not quite placing the acronym.