Who holds the exclusive rights under a patent?

The individual or entity that invented the protected item holds the exclusive rights under a patent. When a person or business successfully obtains a patent, they gain a legal monopoly over the invention. This means that they have the exclusive right to make, use, sell, or distribute the invention for a specified period, typically 20 years from the filing date for utility patents. The intent of patent law is to encourage innovation by allowing inventors to reap the rewards of their creations without the threat of competition from others copying their work.

In contrast, while the original creator of a work of art has rights under copyright law, patents pertain specifically to inventions and methods rather than artistic works. The government does not hold the rights to the patent itself; it merely enforces patent laws and grants patents after reviewing applications. Funding bodies or businesses that finance research do not automatically receive patent rights unless there is a specific agreement or assignment that stipulates otherwise. Therefore, the correct answer focuses on the individual or entity that created the invention as the rightful holder of the patent rights.