PrepTest 157, Section 4, Question 23

Working the answers

• A

  This endorses patent protection for underlying algorithms, which the author rejects. The second paragraph classifies those algorithms with generic principles that should not be patentable.

• B
  Correct

  This captures the recommendation and its limit. The final paragraph says there is no compelling justification for extending protection beyond copyright, and ends by proposing slight modifications to copyright law to preserve the incentive to innovate.

• C

  The opening supports some legal protection, but it doesn't establish that patents are necessary. The author thinks appropriately modified copyright can preserve the incentive. C gives the need for protection a form the author argues against.

• D

  The author does say patents would extend protection beyond copyright. But that is a premise in the criticism: the extra protection lacks a compelling justification. D reports the extension without the author's conclusion about whether it should be granted.

• E

  This describes the kind of protection copyright provides. It helps explain the author's preference, but leaves out the central recommendation that copyright protection is adequate and additional patent protection is unwarranted.