What type of intellectual property grants the right to an invention for twenty years?

The correct answer is a patent, which is a form of intellectual property designed to protect inventions. When granted, a patent gives the inventor exclusive rights to their invention for a period of twenty years from the date of filing. This exclusivity means that others cannot manufacture, use, sell, or distribute the patented invention without the permission of the patent holder, thereby incentivizing innovation and allowing inventors to potentially recoup their investments in research and development.

In contrast, copyright protects original works of authorship, such as literary and artistic works, for the life of the author plus an additional period (generally 70 years), rather than a fixed term associated with inventions. Trademarks protect symbols, names, and slogans used to identify goods or services, but provide rights as long as the mark remains in use and is defended against infringement, rather than for a predetermined time limit like patents. Trade secrets involve confidential business information that provides a competitive edge and can be protected indefinitely as long as the secret is maintained, without any fixed duration like that provided by patents. Thus, a patent uniquely addresses the rights to inventions for a specified duration of twenty years.