Not every idea you have can be protected with a patent. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has strict rules for what can be patented. Find out more.
updated November 21, 2023 · 4min read
The United States Constitution specifically grants congress the authority to pass patent and other intellectual property laws. The Patent Act defines what kinds of things can be patented, but no matter what you choose, patents are only granted to inventions that are new and novel. This means no one else has already patented your invention, or that a person familiar with the field could not easily figure out what you've done.
What kinds of software can you patent
Software is eligible for both patent and copyright protection. Copyright protects the specific code written by the programmer. Patents protect the overall operation of the software and, in most instances, describe a process. If you are the inventor of a software patent a good first step is to chart out the operation of your software as a box diagram to show the steps the software takes to complete its program.
Software patents are highly valued, but getting a good software patent is difficult. It is difficult even for veteran lawyers to describe the process generally enough to protect the invention but specifically enough to describe how to make the software work. When filing for a software patent keep in mind that you cannot patent abstract ideas.
What kinds of ideas can you patent
If you cannot patent abstract ideas, then what kinds of ideas can you patent? The patentability of ideas is still an evolving area of law, with recent decisions still leaving open many questions, but there are some practical considerations to keep in mind.
Ideas are more patentable when executed by a machine. For example, if you invent a new method to interchange data between a smartphone and a thermostat, the invention will be more likely to receive a patent if the patent describes and claims various kinds of smartphones and various network-connected thermostats. If you only discuss the data interchange in the abstract, the patent office is more likely to reject the patent for being too abstract.
Similarly, an idea is more patentable when it produces a tangible result. For example, if the smartphone-thermostat patent includes a description of how the system operates to adjust the climate settings for a building. For software patents, keep in mind how the software integrates with computer systems or with other machines.
What kinds of patents can you get outside of the United States
Every nation in the world has its own patent laws and obtaining international protection means filing for a patent in each nation where you want protection. Recent international treaties made the process of international filing much simpler. Still, you must be prepared for a substantial cost in order to submit international patent applications.
One consequence of recent changes to international law is a greater move towards harmonization of patent laws across the world. Over time, the kinds of things that are patentable in the United States and the kinds of things that are patentable in the rest of the world are more similar. Differences remain, so be careful whenever seeking international patent rights.
Figuring out what you can patent is one of the first steps to starting the process for protecting your invention. Next, you'll have to do a formal patent search—a search of all the patents granted for inventions similar to yours.
LegalZoom can help you file your patent application, when you are ready. We offer a patent search service that helps find conflicts with published patents, a team of professional patent artists to give your patent quality artwork, and a consultation with a patent professional about your application.
by Joe Runge, Esq.
Joe Runge graduated from the University of Iowa with a Juris doctorate and a master of science in molecular evolution...
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