Which statute emphasizes the relationship between prior art and the claimed invention's obviousness?

The correct choice highlights the principles of patentability, specifically pertaining to the concept of obviousness in relation to prior art. The statute in question, 35 U.S.C. 103, directly addresses the criteria for determining whether an invention is obvious when compared with prior art.

In essence, 35 U.S.C. 103 states that a patent may not be granted if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made. This statute emphasizes the importance of evaluating the claimed invention in light of existing knowledge and prior developments in the field.

The other statutes mentioned serve different purposes; for instance, 35 U.S.C. 101 defines patentable subject matter, 35 U.S.C. 102 outlines conditions for novelty and what constitutes prior art, and 35 U.S.C. 112 describes the requirements for specification and claims, including the need for clear and precise description and enablement. While these statutes are all integral to the patent application process, 35 U.S.C. 103 is the one that specifically highlights the relationship between prior art and the obviousness of an invention.