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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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patent
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The exclusive right to manufacture or market a new invention for a given period of time. The concept of a patent arose in Britain as an exception to the Statute of Monopolies (1624), which declared all existing monopolies to be invalid except for grants giving 14 years' exclusivity to inventors of 'any manner of new manufactures within this Realm'. Today patents are granted by the Patent Office. If the inventor can show that the idea is new, is not obvious, and is capable of practical use, he or she will be granted a patent which lasts for 20 years from the date of application.
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