What is the “transformation or reduction of an article” consideration in practical application analysis?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

What is the “transformation or reduction of an article” consideration in practical application analysis?

The “transformation or reduction of an article” consideration is one of the factors used to determine if a claim integrates a judicial exception into a practical application. According to MPEP 2106.04(d):

“Effecting a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing, as discussed in MPEP § 2106.05(c).”

Key aspects of this consideration include:

• The transformation must be to a different state or thing.
• The transformation should be central to the purpose of the claimed process.
• The article being transformed should be a physical object or substance.
• Mere manipulation of data does not qualify as a transformation.

For example, a process that chemically transforms a substance into a different compound would likely meet this consideration. However, simply converting data from one format to another would not be considered a transformation in this context.