Final answer:
A service is considered perishable if its effects are short term, meaning it cannot be stored for later consumption. The concept of patents does not directly relate to service perishability. Patents serve as an incentive to innovate and may have limitations in certain industries.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we talk about services being perishable, we refer to the attribute that services cannot be stored for later use—they must be consumed when offered. In this context, the correct answer to whether a service is perishable if its effects are long term or short term would be that a service is perishable if b. its effects are short term. For example, a seat on a flight cannot be used later if it's not filled—it's very much a perishable offer. Conversely, the ability to patent a service or product, while important, does not directly correlate with perishability. Patents do provide an incentive to innovate by protecting innovators; however, they are also subject to limitations, such as the relevance of patents in fast-moving industries and the potential for patents to be granted too easily or cover too much.