How can patents encourage innovation while creating temporary monopoly power?

• A. By immediately exposing inventions to open competition, which eliminates monopoly power and discourages R&D investment
• B. By forcing inventors to surrender inventions to the government, which distributes them freely and removes private incentives
• C. By granting time-limited exclusive rights that let inventors recoup R&D costs and earn profits, thereby incentivizing innovation while creating temporary market power
• D. By permanently preventing any competitors from using the invention, guaranteeing lifelong monopoly profits and no future competition

Answer: (C)