Horton worked for the Wing Nut Company for two years. During working hours Horton used Wing Nut Company’s equipment to develop an idea that Horton had been thinking about for five years. Finally, Horton invented a better wing nut. Wing Nut Company laid claim to the invention on the grounds that the company’s equipment had been used, on and the invention was made during company time. Horton obtained a patent on the invention and claimed that his employer had no rights to the invention at all. Who is right and why? How could the argument have been prevented in the first place?

Wo firms, a and b, each currently dump 50 tons of chemicals into the local river. the government has decided to reduce the pollution and from now on will require a pollution permit for each ton of pollution dumped into the river. it costs firm a $100 for each ton of pollution that it eliminates before it reaches the river, and it costs firm b $50 for each ton of pollution that it eliminates before it reaches the river. the government gives each firm 20 pollution permits. government officials are not sure whether to allow the firms to buy or sell the pollution permits to each other. what is the total cost of reducing pollution if firms are not allowed to buy and sell pollution permits from each other? what is the total cost of reducing pollution if the firms are allowed to buy and sell permits from each other? a. $3,000; $1,500 b. $4,500; $3,500 c. $4,500; $4,000 d. $4,500; $2,500