What are “certain methods of organizing human activity” in the context of abstract ideas?

“Certain methods of organizing human activity” is one of the three main categories of abstract ideas outlined in MPEP 2106.04(a)(2). This category includes:

  • Fundamental economic principles or practices
  • Commercial or legal interactions
  • Managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people

The MPEP provides specific examples for each sub-category:

“Fundamental economic principles or practices include hedging, insurance, and mitigating risk. Commercial or legal interactions include agreements in the form of contracts, legal obligations, advertising, marketing or sales activities or behaviors, and business relations. Managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people includes social activities, teaching, and following rules or instructions.”

It’s important to note that not all methods of organizing human activity are abstract ideas. The key is to determine whether the claimed concept falls within one of these specific sub-categories.

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Topics: MPEP 2100 - Patentability, MPEP 2106.04(A)(2) - Abstract Idea Groupings, Patent Law, Patent Procedure
Tags: Abstract Ideas, Commercial Interactions, Economic Principles, Methods Of Organizing Human Activity, patent law