Final answer:
The correct answer is option d. The true statement about the protection offered by intellectual property law is that trade secrets have perpetual life until independently discovered and require no public disclosure. Patents and copyrights have limited duration and do not protect ideas or offer protection for the life of the creator plus an extended period.
Step-by-step explanation:
In answering the question about the protections offered by the law of patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, it's important to analyze the truths about each of these intellectual property rights. Patents give the inventor the exclusive legal right to make, use, or sell the invention for a limited time, which is usually 20 years. On the other hand, copyright laws provide the author exclusive legal rights over works of literature, music, film/video, and pictures. Lastly, trade secrets are protected by confidentiality and do not require public disclosure or registration, offering perpetual life until independently discovered by others.
Considering the provided statements, d. Trade secrets have perpetual life until honestly discovered by others, and they require no public filings or disclosure is the true statement about the protection offered by the law for intellectual property. This reflects the nature of trade secrets like the famous formula for Coca-Cola, which is kept secret rather than protected by patents or copyrights.
Options about the length of protection for patents or copyrights, such as the life of the inventor plus 50 years, and ideas being protected by copyright law, are incorrect.