Information Literacy Practice Test

The main idea here is how different types of intellectual property protect different things. A patent covers inventions—new, useful, and non-obvious ways to do something or make something. It gives the inventor exclusive rights to make, use, or sell that invention for a limited time, in exchange for publicly disclosing how it works. A trademark, on the other hand, protects brand identifiers—words, logos, symbols, or phrases—that help consumers recognize the source of goods or services. Trademarks aren’t about the invention itself; they’re about preventing confusion in the marketplace about who provides the product. Patents typically last about 20 years for utility inventions, after which others may use the invention, while trademarks can last indefinitely as long as they’re actively used and renewed. The idea of “open to fair use” doesn’t apply to patents or trademarks—that concept comes from copyright law, which protects creative works like art, books, or music. So, the correct distinction is that patents protect inventions, and trademarks protect brand identifiers like symbols or phrases.