A more thorough explanation:

Definition: The Patent Act is a federal law that governs the registration and protection of patents in the United States. It was enacted in 1952 and is currently in effect. The Act outlines the requirements for obtaining a patent and the rights that come with it.

The Patent Act of 1952 made several changes to the previous laws regarding patents. It eliminated the requirement for a "flash of genius" in combination patents, which means that an invention does not have to be a groundbreaking discovery to be eligible for a patent. It also made "means-plus-function" claims valid again, which allows inventors to describe their invention in terms of its function rather than its structure. Additionally, the Act narrowed the doctrine of contributory infringement, which means that it is more difficult to be found guilty of infringing on someone else's patent.

Example: An inventor creates a new type of smartphone case that has a built-in battery pack. They apply for a patent under the Patent Act and are granted one. This means that they have the exclusive right to manufacture, sell, and use their invention for a certain period of time. If someone else tries to make or sell a similar smartphone case without the inventor's permission, they could be sued for patent infringement.

Explanation: This example illustrates how the Patent Act protects inventors by giving them exclusive rights to their inventions. Without this law, anyone could copy an invention and sell it without the inventor's permission, which would discourage innovation and creativity. The Patent Act encourages inventors to share their ideas with the world by giving them legal protection and the ability to profit from their inventions.