Final answer:
Prior art, such as the functioning starship warp drive in Star Trek, can make an invention ineligible for a patent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true. In patent law, prior art refers to existing knowledge or information that is known to the public before a patent is filed. If an invention is already described or disclosed in prior art, it is considered not novel or non-original, which can make it ineligible for a patent. In the case of the functioning starship warp drive, the concept of warp drives was already depicted in the fictional series Star Trek, which would be considered prior art. Therefore, if someone were to invent a functioning starship warp drive, it would likely be deemed ineligible for a patent.