Patents - Fundamentals of Industrial Chemistry: Pharmaceuticals, Polymers, and Business - page 44

her notebook and has a coworker witness it. Madeline's boss, Dr. Sarah
Noitall, a renowned synthetic chemist, tells Madeline that the idea is
no good and cannot possibly work. Madeline gets upset and transfers to
another group. On January 17, Abigail, Madeline's replacement who is
unaware of Dr. Noitall's views, consults Madeline's notebook and begins
working on the idea in the laboratory. Abigail is able to make cumene.
Based upon what you have been told, choose the best of the following
statements.
a. There is no opportunity for a patent. Cumene is well known and has
been made for years.
b. It is likely to be patentable and Madeline is the sole inventor.
c. It is likely to be patentable and Abigail is the sole inventor.
d. It is likely to be patentable and Madeline and Abigail are coinventors.
e. It is likely to be patentable and Madeline, Sarah, and Abigail are
coinventors.
3. Eddie has an idea for a new process to make beer. His wife Anna, a
physical therapist says, “Eddie, that's wonderful; I never would have
thought of that process.” His friends at the local tavern say the same
thing. Eddie contracts with the Dewy, Cheathem and Howe law office
and files a patent application with the USPTO. Eddie visits Budweiser,
Sam Adams, and Coors headquarters. They confirm that his process is
new and is likely to work. However, they all tell him that his process is
an obvious variant of existing processes. It turns out that the distinction
is that Eddie brews his beer two degrees hotter than the existing process.
Is Eddie entitled to a patent?
a. Yes, the process is new
b. Yes, the process is useful
c. No, the process isn't new
d. No, the process is new but obvious
e. Yes, the process is new, useful, and non-obvious.
4. It is okay and doesn't affect patentability to disclose an invention at a
trade show more than one year before filing a patent application as long
as the invention is not sold.
a. True
b. False
5. A U.S. Patent grants exclusive rights for how long?
a. 10 years from the date of the invention
b. 10 years from the date the patent application is filed