"the Patent System Added the Fuel of Interest To the Fire of Genius" A. Lincoln Edison February 11, 1847 Lincoln February 12, 1809 National Inventors Day February 11 National Inventors Hall of Fame 1776-1976 America's Bicentennial United States Constitution Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8: "congress Shall Have Power...to Promote the Progress of Science and Useful Arts, By Securing For Limited Times To Authors and Inventors the Exclusive Rights To Their Respective Writings and Discoveries." Trademark Details