What is a patent?

A patent is best defined as a government grant that gives an inventor exclusive rights to an invention for a limited period of time. This means that the inventor has the legal right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or distributing the patented invention without permission. The rationale behind patents is to encourage innovation by providing inventors with a temporary monopoly, allowing them to potentially recoup their investment in research and development.

The exclusivity provided by a patent is typically valid for 20 years from the filing date of the application, after which the invention enters the public domain. This encourages inventors to disclose their inventions to the public, facilitating further innovation and development in technology and industry.

In contrast to other choices, a recognizable sign or symbol used for branding refers to a trademark, while protection for original artistic works pertains to copyright. Confidential details related to business strategies are more aligned with trade secrets. Each of these concepts serves distinct legal purposes in the realm of intellectual property, but only a patent specifically provides exclusive rights for inventions.