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Quiz about Patents Copyrights and Trademarks

Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Quiz

What do you know about the U.S. Patent and Trademark office?

A multiple-choice quiz by fabulouscoops. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
fabulouscoops

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
270,868

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
577

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the meaning of the word "patent"? Hint

A sick person.

A type of shoe.

Open to public inspection.

Something that is true.

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who is the only U.S. President to be issued a patent? Hint

Benjamin Franklin

Jimmy Carter

Abraham Lincoln

Thomas Jefferson

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Question 3 of 10

3. What can prevent a patent from being issued? Hint

It is an obvious improvement

Cannot be reduced to practice.

There is something similar already patented

All of these

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Question 4 of 10

4. If you work for the U.S. Patent and Trademark office, you are prohibited by law from filing a patent.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Only U.S. citizens can apply for a patent.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. The closely guarded formula for making Coca-Cola is an example of what type of information? Hint

Patent

Trade Secret

Trademark

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Question 7 of 10

7. A copyright is registered by the Library of Congress and lasts for how long? Hint

renewable indefinitely by annual fee

Life of the author

Life of the author plus 70 years.

50 years

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Question 8 of 10

8. Trademarks are renewable forever if they are used in a business. Which of the following is an example of a trademark? Hint

The name "McDonald's"

Onion Rings

A Double Cheeseburger

The phrase "Do you want fries with that?"

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Question 9 of 10

9. What year was the first U.S. patent granted? (Hint, this was also the year of the first U.S. census.) Hint

1776

1790

1786

1800

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Question 10 of 10

10. What fees, if any, are associated with a patent?
Hint

filing fee, issue fee, maintenance fees

A one time fee to cover office costs

There is no fee.

A nominal annual fee

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the meaning of the word "patent"?

Answer: Open to public inspection.

A patent is a disclosure of an invention for the purpose of securing rights for the inventor. Letters patent were used by monarchs as early as the 14th century.

2. Who is the only U.S. President to be issued a patent?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Franklin was never President, and although Carter and Jefferson were scientifically inclined, neither had a patent issued in their name. Lincoln's patent was a device used to help move a boat over shallow water.

3. What can prevent a patent from being issued?

Answer: All of these

A patent must describe a novel invention (not be found in the "prior art") and be non-obvious to one skilled in the particular art the patent covers. Usually a working model is required, but this condition can be waived if the invention can be shown to work in some other way.

4. If you work for the U.S. Patent and Trademark office, you are prohibited by law from filing a patent.

Answer: True

A conflict of interest would arise for a patent examiner to approve his own invention. A examiner's decision is only three steps away from the Supreme Court and as such they are considered to be nearly judicial in scope. In addition, patent examiners must be U.S. citizens.

5. Only U.S. citizens can apply for a patent.

Answer: False

Many foreigners are U.S. patent holders. The only restriction is that the actual inventor must file the patent in his or her own name.

6. The closely guarded formula for making Coca-Cola is an example of what type of information?

Answer: Trade Secret

Copyrights and trademarks are used for visual or audio information. Coca-Cola has kept the secret of its recipe for longer than the life of a patent. Only a handful of officers of the company know the ingredients.

7. A copyright is registered by the Library of Congress and lasts for how long?

Answer: Life of the author plus 70 years.

Books, music, artwork and video games are all examples of copyrighted material. A copyright lasts much longer than a patent which is normally valid for 20 years after the application.

8. Trademarks are renewable forever if they are used in a business. Which of the following is an example of a trademark?

Answer: The name "McDonald's"

Most business names are trademarks. Generic phrases or names cannot be registered.

9. What year was the first U.S. patent granted? (Hint, this was also the year of the first U.S. census.)

Answer: 1790

Samuel Hopkins of Philadelphia was issued the first U.S. patent. It was a method of making soap.

10. What fees, if any, are associated with a patent?

Answer: filing fee, issue fee, maintenance fees

Holding a patent can be costly. In 2007, a non-refundable filing fee of $100-$150, an issue fee of $650 and graduated maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years totaling $3,500 are required. These fees can be lower for non-profit or single entity inventors.

Source: Author fabulouscoops

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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