Patent Subject-Matter Eligibility: Roundtable 2
Over the past six years, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued a series of decisions—Bilski, Mayo, Myriad, and Alice—that have significantly impacted patent eligibility law and continue to generate substantial public debate. We are seeking input from the public on patent subject-matter eligibility through two roundtables held Nov. 14 in Alexandria, Virginia, and Dec. 5 in Stanford, California.
This second roundtable will focus on receiving feedback regarding larger questions concerning the legal contours of eligible subject matter in the U.S. patent system. Additional details about the roundtables are in a Federal Register Notice published Oct. 17, 2016.
Agenda: RT2 Agenda
Background information:
35 U.S.C. § 101 defines inventions eligible for patenting as “any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.” These classes of patent eligible subject matter have been narrowed by court opinions, which state that laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas are not eligible for patenting.For non-press inquiries, please contact Elizabeth Shaw 571-272-9300, or e-mail elizabeth.shaw2@uspto.gov (link sends e-mail).
Written comments for Roundtable 2 can be viewed on the Post Roundtable 2 web page.