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  3. When an invention is made, the inventor has three possible courses of action open to him: he can give the invention to the world

When an invention is made, the inventor has three possible courses of action open to him: he can give the invention to the world

admin2010-06-01  55
问题     When an invention is made, the inventor has three possible courses of action open to him: he can give the invention to the world by publishing it, keep the idea secret, or patent it.
    A granted patent is the result of a bargain struck between an inventor and the state, by which the inventor gets a limited period of monopoly and publishes full details of his invention to the public after that period terminates.
    Only in the most exceptional circumstances is the life span of a patent extended to alter this normal process of events.
    The longest extension ever granted was to Georges Valensi; his 1939 patent for color TV receiver circuitry was extended until 1971 because for most of the patent’s normal life there was no color TV to re-ceive and thus no hope of reward for the invention.
    Because a patent remains permanently public after it has terminated, the shelves of the library attached to the patent office contain details of literally millions of ideas that are free for anyone to use and, if older than half a century, sometimes even rem-patented. Indeed, patent experts often advise any other inventor’s right is to plagiarize a dead patent. Likewise, because publication of an idea in any other form permanently invalidates further patents on that idea, it is traditionally safe to take ideas from other areas of print. Much modern technological advance is based on these presumptions of legal security.
    Anyone closely involved in patents and inventions soon learns that most "new" ideas are, in fact, as old as the hills. It is their reduction to commercial practice, either through necessity or dedication, or through the availability of new technology that makes news and money. The basic patent for the theory of magnetic recording dates back to 1886. Many of the original ideas behind television originate from the late 19th and early 20th century. Even the Volkswagen rear engine car was anticipated by a 1904 patent for a cart with the horse at the rear.
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
选项 A、When a patent becomes out of effect, it can be repatented or extended if necessary.
B、It is necessary for an inventor to apply for a patent before he makes his invention public.
C、A patent holder must publicize the details of his invention when its legal period is over.
D、One can get all the details of a patented invention from a library attached to the patent office.
答案C
解析 本题为判断题。本文第二段by which引导的非限制性定语从句表明，发明者在获得专利后，在一“有限”的时期内拥有对该项发明的垄断权，但这一期限结束后，要将该项发明的所有细节全部公之于众。选项C符合此意。注意terminate表示“结束”的意思。
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