What types of transformations are generally not considered patent-eligible under MPEP 2106.05(c)?

MPEP 2106.05(c) provides guidance on transformations that are generally not considered patent-eligible:

1. Mental Processes: Purely mental processes in which thoughts or human based actions are “changed” are not considered an eligible transformation.
2. Data Manipulation: For data, mere “manipulation of basic mathematical constructs [i.e.,] the paradigmatic ‘abstract idea,'” has not been deemed a transformation.
3. Insignificant Transformations: Transformations that contribute only nominally or insignificantly to the execution of the claimed method are not likely to provide significantly more or integrate a judicial exception into a practical application.
4. Mere Location Changes: The MPEP notes that “Changing to a different state or thing usually means more than simply using an article or changing the location of an article.”

Additionally, transformations that are merely extra-solution activity or field-of-use limitations are less likely to be considered patent-eligible. The MPEP cites an example from the Mayo case: The Supreme Court disagreed, finding that this step was only a field-of-use limitation and did not provide significantly more than the judicial exception.

To learn more:

• non-eligible transformations
• patent eligibility
• MPEP 2106.05(c)
• mental processes
• data manipulation