In an Article About the Patents Held by the Research

question 103

Multiple Choice

In an article about the patents held by the Research Services Office at the University of Waterloo, it was written that none of the patents were there because someone set out to invent something new. "If we knew what it was that creates innovation, we would all be millionaires... it's chance, brilliance, an offhand remark...." We know that to obtain a patent we need to have created an "invention." Which of the following best defines a patentable invention?

• A) A new and useful machine
• B) An original artistic work
• C) A significant scientific principle
• D) Novel information used in a person's business which gives him or her a competitive edge
• E) A unique mark identifying a business or product

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Definitions:

Household Appliance

Electrical or mechanical machines used in homes to perform domestic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and food preservation, enhancing comfort and convenience.

Automobile Tire

A rubber-based component fitted around the rim of a car wheel, providing traction and absorbing road shocks.

Concentration Ratios

Measures that indicate the extent of market control by leading firms in an industry, typically expressed as a percentage of total industry sales or output.

Imported Products

Goods or services brought into one country from another for sale, which can diversify consumer options and contribute to economic dynamics.