Which of these protects an invention? 1. Patents 2. Copyrights 3. Trademarks 4. Exclusive use agreements

Patents are the form of intellectual property protection that serve to protect an invention. When an inventor is granted a patent by the government, it gives them the exclusive right to make, use, sell, and import the invention for a certain period of time, typically 20 years from the filing date of the patent application. The patent prevents others from using the invention without the inventor's consent during this time.

Intellectual property (IP) law offers different types of protections for creators, and it's useful to know the distinctions:

1. Patents :- guard against others making or selling an inventor’s unique creation, which could be a product, process, or design. To be patentable, an invention must be novel, non-obvious, and useful.

2. Copyrights :- protect original works of authorship, such as books, music, art, and software. A copyrighted work is fixed in a tangible form as soon as it's created, and the protection can last for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years after their death.

3. Trademarks :- safeguard symbols, names, and slogans used to identify goods and services. The primary role of a trademark is to distinguish a company's offerings from those of others, thereby preventing consumer confusion in the marketplace. Trademarks can last indefinitely as long as they are in use and defended against infringement.

4. Exclusive-use agreements :- are contracts that allow someone exclusive rights to use a certain property, material, or service for a designated purpose. While this type of agreement can provide a form of protection for use rights, it is not a form of intellectual property protection like patents, copyrights, or trademarks.