What are the four categories of statutory subject matter for patent eligibility?
The four categories of statutory subject matter for patent eligibility, as enumerated in 35 U.S.C. 101, are:
- Processes
- Machines
- Manufactures
- Compositions of matter
As stated in the MPEP: “These “four categories together describe the exclusive reach of patentable subject matter. If a claim covers material not found in any of the four statutory categories, that claim falls outside the plainly expressed scope of § 101 even if the subject matter is otherwise new and useful.” This quote emphasizes the importance of ensuring that a claimed invention falls within at least one of these categories to be considered patent-eligible subject matter.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 2100 - Patentability,
MPEP 2106.03 - Eligibility Step 1: The Four Categories Of Statutory Subject Matter,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure