If an invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent then:
A) the invention can only be patented for 10 years
B) the invention can only be patented for 5 years
C) the invention cannot be patented without a 5 year grace period
D) the invention cannot be patented
E) none of the other choices are correct

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the law, an invention cannot be patented if it was known or used by others in the country or published in a printed publication anywhere in the world before the applicant invented it. This is known as prior art, and it makes the invention not novel and therefore not eligible for a patent.

If an Invention Was Known or Used by Others in This