The condition that patents must be for original inventions traces back to:
A) the British experience with abusive patents granted by King James I to raise money
B) the German experience with abusive patents granted by Adolf Hitler
C) the American experience with abusive patents granted as favors for senators
D) the New Zealand experience with an excessive number of patents being issued every year
E) none of the other choices are correct

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The condition that patents must be for original inventions can be traced back to the British experience with abusive patents granted by King James I to raise money, which led to the Statute of Monopolies in 1624. This statute required that patents be granted only for new inventions and not for already existing products or processes. This requirement has been carried forward by many other countries including the United States, which adopted a similar requirement in its patent law in 1790.

The Condition That Patents Must Be for Original Inventions Traces