What is the exclusive right granted to an inventor for his invention?

• A. Patent
• B. Intellectual property
• C. Copyright
• D. Trademark

Answer: (A)

Patents grant the inventor exclusive rights to prevent others from making, using, or selling the invention for a limited period, in exchange for publicly disclosing how the invention works. This protection typically lasts around twenty years and covers new and useful inventions, including processes, machines, compositions of matter, or significant improvements. Intellectual property is the broader umbrella that includes patents as one form, but copyright and trademark protect different kinds of assets and do not give exclusive rights to an invention. So for the question asking about the exclusive right granted to an inventor for his invention, a patent is the correct form of protection.