Final answer:
The USPTO encourages entrepreneurship by protecting inventors' rights through patents and trademarks, enabling them to secure a return on investment for their innovations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) encourages entrepreneurship by protecting the rights of inventors. By securing patents and trademarks, the USPTO ensures that inventors have the exclusive right to make, use, or sell their inventions for a limited time, typically 20 years in the United States. This protection encourages innovation by allowing firms to recoup their investments in research and development, providing a temporary monopoly that incentivizes the creative process.