The energy for an endergonic reaction is obtained by coupling the reaction with an exergonic reaction. A familiar example of coupling exergonic reactions to endergonic reactions to promote spontaneity comes from ATP.
That's a key distinction, because foreign countries with weak patent laws routinely inundate the market with knockoff products. The only way you're going to control your product in the market is if you have the ability to tell others to stop, Wolin says. In the United States and elsewhere, it's the patent system. That's the only way..
In order for an invention to be patentable, it must be new as defined in the patent law: if the invention has been described in a printed publication or has been in public use or on sale for more than one year before the date of filing an application for a patent, a patent cannot be obtained.