What does nonobviousness mean in patent law?

Nonobviousness in patent law refers to a key criterion that an invention must meet to be eligible for patent protection. Specifically, it signifies that the invention must not be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the relevant field at the time the invention was made. This means that the invention must represent a significant advancement over existing knowledge and prior art.

When an invention is deemed nonobvious, it suggests that there are elements of creativity or innovation that go beyond mere variations or modifications of what is already known. Essentially, it underscores the idea that the invention must provide a sufficient leap in technological advancement or a novel approach that is not easily deducible based on prior sources of information.

The other options do not accurately reflect the definition of nonobviousness. For example, an invention's visual uniqueness or having a clear defined purpose does not inherently correlate to its nonobviousness. Furthermore, the necessity for an invention to be created by a single inventor does not align with patent law principles, as multiple inventors can collaborate on a single patentable invention.