Legal Definitions - patentable

Patentable describes an invention, process, design, or composition that meets the legal requirements to be granted a patent by a government authority. For something to be considered patentable, it must generally be:

• Novel (new and not previously disclosed)
• Useful (has a practical application)
• Non-obvious (not an obvious improvement or variation to someone skilled in the relevant field)

If an invention possesses these characteristics, its creator may be able to secure exclusive legal rights to it for a limited period.

Here are some examples:

• Example 1: A New Energy Storage Device

  A team of engineers develops a revolutionary battery technology that can store significantly more energy and recharge much faster than any existing battery. This new technology is considered patentable because it represents a novel, useful, and non-obvious advancement in energy storage, offering a distinct improvement over current solutions.

• Example 2: An Innovative Water Purification Method

  A scientist invents a unique multi-stage filtration process that can purify highly contaminated industrial wastewater into potable water with unprecedented efficiency and at a lower cost than conventional methods. This purification method is patentable because it introduces a new and effective process for addressing a significant environmental challenge, demonstrating novelty, utility, and non-obviousness in its approach.

• Example 3: A Novel Pharmaceutical Compound

  A pharmaceutical company synthesizes a previously unknown chemical compound that, through clinical trials, proves to be highly effective in treating a rare autoimmune disease with minimal side effects. This specific chemical compound is patentable because it is a new composition of matter with a distinct and useful therapeutic application, and its structure and effects are not an obvious variation of existing drugs.