What are the four categories of statutory subject matter in patent law?
What are the four categories of statutory subject matter in patent law?
The four categories of statutory subject matter in patent law, as defined in 35 U.S.C. § 101, are:
- Process
- Machine
- Manufacture
- Composition of matter
As stated in the MPEP 2106.03: “The Supreme Court has acknowledged that Congress intended statutory subject matter to ‘include anything under the sun that is made by man.’” However, it’s important to note that abstract ideas, laws of nature, and natural phenomena are not patentable 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