Which area of law focuses on protecting inventions?

Patent law is specifically designed to protect the rights of inventors by granting them exclusive rights to their inventions for a limited time. This legal framework encourages innovation by preventing others from making, using, or selling the patented invention without the inventor's permission. The process involves filing a patent application that must meet certain criteria, such as novelty, non-obviousness, and usefulness.

In contrast, contract law addresses the agreements made between parties, such as the terms and conditions of a business transaction, but does not specifically protect inventions. Tort law, on the other hand, deals with civil wrongs and compensation for damages, rather than intellectual property matters. Property law covers ownership rights related to physical and intangible assets but is not primarily concerned with the protection of inventions.

Thus, patent law stands out as the correct answer since its primary focus is on safeguarding innovations and fostering economic growth through the protection of intellectual property.