Final answer:
A patent grants the inventor exclusive rights to manufacture, sell, or control an invention for 20 years, protecting their intellectual property and incentivizing research and development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The right to manufacture, sell, or control an invention for a period of 20 years is granted through a patent. When an invention is patented, the inventor obtains exclusive legal rights to their creation. These rights are enforceable by the granting government and ensure that no other entity can produce, sell, or distribute the patented product or process without the patent holder's permission. This system serves to incentivize innovation and investment in research and development by protecting the inventor's intellectual property and potential to earn monopoly profits for the duration of the patent's validity.