Patendiobjektid

Patendiobjektid refers to the subject matter that can be protected by a patent. In essence, it is anything that is new, inventive, and capable of industrial application. This generally falls into several broad categories.

Firstly, inventions can be processes. This means a method of doing something, a way of manufacturing a product, or a technique for achieving a specific result. For example, a new method for refining oil or a novel way to diagnose a disease could be patentable processes.

Secondly, inventions can be products or devices. This includes tangible items such as machines, tools, apparatuses, or compositions of matter. A new type of engine, a more efficient solar panel, or a novel chemical compound used in medicine are examples of patentable products.

Thirdly, there are improvements to existing processes or products. If a new modification significantly enhances the performance, efficiency, or functionality of something already known, it can also be eligible for patent protection.

However, not everything is patentable. Discoveries, scientific theories, mathematical methods, and abstract ideas are generally excluded. Furthermore, methods of medical treatment or diagnosis, and plant or animal varieties (though specific biotechnological inventions related to them may be patentable) are often not eligible for patenting in many jurisdictions. The specific criteria and exclusions can vary between countries and patent offices.