Thomas Edison received patents on many of his inventions. While the patents existed, his ideas were
A)public goods and proprietary knowledge.
B)public goods but not proprietary knowledge.
C)private goods and proprietary knowledge.
D)private goods but not proprietary knowledge.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patents are meant to protect private goods and proprietary knowledge. Therefore, while Edison's inventions may have been considered public goods, as they were available for public use, the patents protected them as his private goods and proprietary knowledge.

Thomas Edison Received Patents on Many of His Inventions