student asking question

What does "patented" mean here?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

The word "patented" is the past tense for "patent" which is the exclusive right given by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years. Meaning that no one else is legally allowed to make that invention without the inventor's permission. In the case of this clip we learn that it is not possible to "patent" a colour. Meaning that, even if you created a colour, you cannot legally stop other people from using that same colour. Ex: An invention is not your own until it is patented. Ex: I have patented this machine so you can't make it.

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