Inventor's protection (6)
I believe the answer is:
patent
'inventor's protection' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for patent that I've seen before include "This leather has a glossy varnished surface" , "Open the right to an invention" , "Registration of an invention or trade name" , "licence inside" , "The right to an invention is clear" .)