A researcher for Hexetron Systems, Inc. was reading printed volumes of The

Alaska Journal of Aerospace Metallurgy, a journal which was only published

during a brief span from 1972 to 1973. Within the fragile, dusty pages, the

researcher came across a formula for creating a titanium-aluminum alloy with

incredible properties of strength, durability, and resistance to corrosion.

Despite the fact that this alloy would represent an incredible breakthrough for

the aerospace industry, no one has used the formula. Apparently, no one ever

noticed the write-up in this obscure journal. Which of the following regimes

offers Hexetron the best prospects for intellectual property protection for the

alloy formula under these facts?