iBT TOEFL Listening

Chapter 2: Listening Again (2)

5: Law: Patient & Intellectual Property

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Part 1: (1)
(1) A patent is an interesting concept that has evolved from the Middle Ages. Back then, it
was a document granting privilege by the King and it has evolved into a right that is granted
to inventors by the laws of a country. It's actually a kind of protection for inventors to
ensure they have the chance to make a profit from their inventions which will reward them
for the time, money and energy they spent developing it.
Note-Taking
* Patent - Middle Ages - privilege by the King evolved into a right to inventors by the
laws / protection to make a profit
Key Words & Expressions
* has evolved = has developed
* granting privilege = giving advantage
* privilege: an advantage that only one person or group of people has
* make a profit: earn money in business
!!! reward .

(2) Patents are in fact society's contract with inventors. Once granted, they can be bought,
sold, licensed, exchanged and given away. Patents are known as intellectual property and
recognized as being intangible which means although they cannot be touched, they are an
asset. There are other categories of intellectual propertytrademarks, copyrights and trade
secrets, but we are not concerned with them for now.
Note-Taking
* Contract with inventors / bought, sold, licensed, exchanged, and given away /
intellectual property intangible - an asset / other categories-trademarks, copyrights,
and trade secrets - not now
Key Words & Expressions
* grant = give
* intangible: existing but unable to be described or proven

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!!! .

(3) Inventors are protected by patents, but what exactly is it that protects them? Well, they
are protected by the laws that granted the patents which are the laws of the country that
they live in. The extent of the protection varies. Generally, the laws prevent someone else
from copying, making, using or selling the original invention. However, in exchange for
registering the patent the inventor must divulge details of the invention.
Note-Taking
* Protected by the laws - prevent from copying, making, using, or selling the invention /
registering divulge details of the invention
Key Words & Expressions
* extent: degree
* divulge: to make something secret known (= reveal)

(4) The theory is that the new product will inspire other inventors to do more research
spending more time, money and energy developing a superior or different product.
Note-Taking
* New product inspire inventors to do research - develop a product
Key Words & Expressions
* inspire: sitmulate someone into activity, especially into artistic or creative activity

Part 2: (2)
(5) Actually when an inventor has a patent, it's enforceable by the laws in the country where
the inventor developed the invention and lives. If anyone makes and sells the product then
the inventor can take them to civil court.
Note-Taking
* Enforceable by the laws / makes and sells to civil court
Key Words & Expressions
* enforceable: able to make a particular situation happen or be accepted
!!! them th- .
!!! civil court , criminal court .

(6) Can the other person being sued do anything to help themselves? I mean they may not
have realized they were doing anything wrong?

That's the beauty of the whole thing. Ignorance of the law doesn't count, I'm afraid.

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However, the other person can counter-sue pretending that they were actually the original
inventor.
Note-Taking
* Being sued not knowing the beauty of the whole thing ignorance of the law
counter-sue
Key Words & Expressions
* Thats the beauty of the whole thing. = That has the positive side.
* counter: be considered
!!! Im afraid~
. I think~ .
!!! beauty Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. .
.

(7) Will the police help?

No. A civil suit means that the police aren't involved. The inventor is on his own and must
pay lawyers to act on his behalf in the court.
Note-Taking
* A civil suit no police lawyer on his behalf
Key Words & Expressions
* on ones behalf: instead of someone
!!! .

(8) You said the inventor is protected by the laws of the country. Is everything equal? Do all
countries have the same law?

No. They're not all equal. You're right. It's only in theory. It is being worked on. The World
Trade Organization (WTO) has developed an agreement, Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) which makes sure that the patent is valid for 20 years.
The idea is that all the countries will join it. One day it will be between countries too.
Note-Taking
* All countries not the same law TRIPS patent valid for 20 y all countries will join
Key Words & Expressions
* valid: having legal force
!!! World Trade Organization(WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights(TRIPS) .

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Part 3:
Now get ready to answer the questions. You may use your notes to help you answer.
1. Listen to part of the lecture again and answer the question.
Professor: Patents are known as intellectual property and recognized as being intangible
which means although they cannot be touched they are an asset. There are other
categories of intellectual property? Trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, but we are
not concerned with them for now.

What does the professor mean by this?

... but we are not concerned with them for now
(A) Nowadays people do not worry about other categories of intellectual property.
(B) The professor does not like the way intellectual property is categorized.
(C) The students do not have to worry about intellectual property because it is not about
them.
(D) In this class, the professor is not going to deal with those issues.
: There are other categories of intellectual property? Trademarks, copyrights and
trade secrets, but we are not concerned with them for now.

2. Listen to part of the lecture again and answer the question.

Student: Can the other person being sued do anything to help themselves? I mean they
may not have realized they were doing anything wrong?
Professor: That's the beauty of the whole thing. Ignorance of the law doesn't count, I'm
afraid.

What does the professor mean by this?

That's the beauty of the whole thing.
(A) The professor thinks that it is beautiful to have a patent.
(B) The professor feels that it is the positive side of having a patent law.
(C) The professor thinks that it is the negative side of having a patent law.
(D) The professor feels that it is stupid to have a patent.
: That's the beauty of the whole thing. Ignorance of the law doesn't count, I'm
afraid.

3. Listen to part of the lecture again and answer the question.

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Student: Will the police help?

Professor: No. A civil suit means that the police aren't involved. The inventor is on his
own and must pay lawyers to act on his behalf in the court.

Why does the professor say this?

The inventor is on his own and must pay lawyers to act on his behalf in the court.

(A) Because inventors have no legal rights in a court of law.

(B) Because a civil suit is not the same as a criminal case.
(C) Because civil suits usually cost much more than criminal cases.
(D) Because patent cases are often extremely complicated.
: No. A civil suit means that the police aren't involved.

4. Listen to part of the lecture again and answer the question.

Student: You said the inventor is protected by the laws of the country. Is everything equal?
Do all countries have the same law?
Professor: No. They're not all equal. You're right. It's only in theory. It is being worked on.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has developed an agreement, Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) which makes sure that the patent is valid for 20
years.

Why does the professor say this?

You're right. It's only in theory. It is being worked on.
(A) Because violations of intellectual property rights are not actually illegal.
(B) Because the World Trade Organization does not recognize national boundaries.
(C) Because different countries have different laws regarding intellectual property rights.
(D) Because intellectual property rights are only a theory.
: You said the inventor is protected by the laws of the country. Is everything
equal? Do all countries have the same law? // No. They're not all equal.

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finish , / perpetuate , / intellectual property
/ intangible ; / divulge , / enforceable
/ injunction

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