Nonstatutory subject matter

U.S. Patent Law
Patents are not granted for all new and useful inventions and discoveries. The subject matter of the invention or discovery must come within the boundaries set forth by 35 U.S.C. §101, which permits patents to be granted only for "any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof." If it does not, it is considered nonstatutory subject matter and cannot be patented.