Final answer:
Eli Whitney struggled to profit from the cotton gin invention due to others copying his ideas, impacting his patent protection and financial gains.
Explanation:
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, but faced challenges profiting from it due to others copying his ideas in violation of his patent rights. Southern cotton planters replicated his design with minor changes, leading to legal disputes where courts in the South did not uphold his patent rights. Despite his invention's significance in revolutionizing cotton production, issues with patent protection hindered Whitney's financial success.
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