What is an important exception regarding inventory sold in the ordinary course?

The principle that inventory sold in the ordinary course of business is generally not subject to the debtor's lender's security interests is rooted in the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) provisions. This protection is essential because it allows businesses to sell their inventory without the constraint of their secured creditor's interest, thereby enabling normal operations and facilitating commerce.

When a debtor sells its inventory as part of its regular business activities, the buyer acquires the inventory free from any security interest created by the debtor's lenders, provided that the buyer is acting in good faith and without knowledge of the security interest. This rule aims to protect buyers in the marketplace and supports the liquidity of businesses that rely on selling inventory to manage their cash flow and pay debts.

The other options refer to conditions that do not align with the UCC's treatment of inventory sales in the ordinary course. Inventory does not require a special filing to be exempt from security interests, nor does it inherently necessitate the lender’s consent for sale in this context. The lender’s interest does apply to the inventory itself until it is sold, but once sold in the ordinary course, the interest is effectively bypassed for the buyer's benefit.