Which IP protection protects an invention from being copied for a limited time?

• A. Copyright
• B. Trademark
• C. Patent
• D. Trade secret

Answer: (C)

Patents give inventors exclusive rights to their invention for a fixed period, typically about 20 years from filing, during which others can’t make, use, or sell the invention without permission. After that term, the invention enters the public domain. This limited-time protection is designed to encourage innovation by allowing inventors to recoup costs while eventually sharing the details with everyone.

Copyright protects creative works like writing or software code, not inventions. Trademark protects brand names and logos that identify a product or service. Trade secrets guard confidential information that gives a business a competitive edge, but only as long as secrecy is maintained and there’s no public disclosure.