After years of tinkering, Carrie perfects her spillproof baby cup design, the first of its kind. To protect her invention, she should apply for a

She should apply for a patent

She should apply for a patent.

Explanation:

Patent is an exclusive right over an invention or industrializable creation, granted by an official public body.

Through the patent, the inventor prohibits third parties, without their consent, from producing, using, selling, selling or importing the patented product or product resulting from a patented process.

It is important to remember that a patent only has validity in national territory. In addition, the document confers a temporary title, given that it has a specific term, which varies according to the type of patent.