Rick loves to be on the water but is not keen on exerting himself once there. He has invented a stand-up paddle board propelled by a motorized pedal power. His wife has teased him, suggesting he patent the product. Rick has decided this may be a good idea. Based on your readings of the Business Law Textbook, one can advise Rick that:

Select one:

a.

Once granted, Rick's patent will give him a monopoly for a maximum period of 12 years from the date of application

b.

To secure a patent, Rick will need to disclose how the object works. It must be possible to construct and use the motorized paddle board based on the information supplied to the patent office.

c.

His invention cannot be patented as stand-up paddle boards already exist.

d.

If Rick permits others to manufacture the motorized paddle board, he will lose his monopoly, so unless Rick has the resources to manufacture the product himself, there is no benefit to securing a patent.