{"id":13899,"date":"2024-10-15T09:25:38","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T09:25:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/custos-ipc.nl\/?post_type=ufaq&#038;p=13899"},"modified":"2025-09-07T14:25:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T14:25:23","slug":"patent-protection-which-inventions-do-not-qualify","status":"publish","type":"ufaq","link":"https:\/\/custos-ipc.nl\/en\/faq\/octrooibescherming-welke-uitvindingen-komen-niet-in-aanmerking\/","title":{"rendered":"Which inventions are not eligible for a patent?"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>html, body {\r\n  height: 100%;\r\n  margin: 0;\r\n}\r\n\r\n#page {\r\n  display: grid;\r\n  grid-template-rows: auto 1fr auto;\r\n  min-height: 100vh;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.site-content {\r\n  padding: 20px;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.cta-button {\r\n  display: inline-block;\r\n  background-color: #f9c200; \/* Gele huisstijl *\/\r\n  color: #000000;\r\n  padding: 12px 24px;\r\n  text-decoration: none;\r\n  font-weight: bold;\r\n  border-radius: 6px;\r\n  margin-top: 16px;\r\n  transition: background-color 0.3s ease;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.cta-button:hover {\r\n  background-color: #e6b100;\r\n}<\/style><div  class=\"ewd-ufaq-faq-list ewd-ufaq-page-type-distinct ewd-ufaq-category-tabs- ewd-ufaq-faq-category-title-accordion\" id='ewd-ufaq-faq-list'>\n\n\t<input type='hidden' name='show_on_load' value='' id='ewd-ufaq-show-on-load' \/>\n<input type='hidden' name='include_category' value='' id='ewd-ufaq-include-category' \/>\n<input type='hidden' name='exclude_category' value='' id='ewd-ufaq-exclude-category' \/>\n<input type='hidden' name='orderby' value='date' id='ewd-ufaq-orderby' \/>\n<input type='hidden' name='order' value='asc' id='ewd-ufaq-order' \/>\n<input type='hidden' name='post_count' value='-1' id='ewd-ufaq-post-count' \/>\n<input type='hidden' name='current_url' value='\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ufaq\/13899' id='ewd-ufaq-current-url' \/>\n\t\n\t\n\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-faqs'>\n\n\t\t<div  class=\"ewd-ufaq-faq-div ewd-ufaq-faq-column-count-one ewd-ufaq-faq-responsive-columns- ewd-ufaq-faq-display-style-default ewd-ufaq-can-be-toggled\" id='ewd-ufaq-post-13899-qBPYZRVqFI' data-post_id='13899'>\n\n\t\t\n\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-faq-title ewd-ufaq-faq-toggle'>\n\t\n\t<a class='ewd-ufaq-post-margin'  href='#' role=\"button\">\n\n\t\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-post-margin-symbol ewd-ufaq-'>\n\t\t\t<span >A<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-faq-title-text'>\n\n\t\t\t<h4>\n\t\t\t\tWhich inventions are not eligible for a patent?\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-clear'><\/div>\n\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-faq-excerpt'>\n\t<p>Patents can protect a wide range of inventions. But, there are also some subjects that are excluded from patent protection. These exclusions vary from country to country, but fortunately most patent systems follow similar guidelines. In this article, we list the main exclusions for obtaining a patent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-faq-body' >\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-post-margin ewd-ufaq-faq-post'>\n\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/custos-ipc.nl\/en\/faq\/what-is-a-patent\/\">Patents<\/a> can protect a wide range of inventions. However, there are also some subjects that are excluded from <a href=\"https:\/\/custos-ipc.nl\/en\/faq\/can-i-protect-my-invention-in-multiple-countries\/\">patent protection<\/a>. These exclusions vary from country to country, but fortunately most patent systems apply similar guidelines. In this article, we list the most important exceptions for the <a href=\"https:\/\/custos-ipc.nl\/en\/services\/patents-requests\/\">obtaining a patent<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 2px solid #D8C039;padding: 20px;margin: 20px 0;border-radius: 4px;background-color: #fff;font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;line-height: 1.6\">\n<h3>What is excluded from patent protection?<\/h3>\n<p>Scientific discoveries, mathematical methods, computer programs as such, aesthetic creations, business methods, surgical treatments, and morally reprehensible inventions are not patentable. Software can be patented if it solves technical problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><u>Mathematical methods and scientific theories<\/u>. Theoretical concepts such as mathematical formulas and scientific theories cannot be patented. This is because these methods have no direct practical application and can only be considered discoveries.<\/p>\n<p><u>Software as such<\/u>. In Europe, software by itself cannot be patented. This is especially true for software that makes no technical contribution, beyond pure computer processes. However, if the software contributes to the technical effect, for example in controlling a machine, patent protection may be possible.<\/p>\n<p><u>Aesthetic designs<\/u>. Creative works such as art, fashion designs and graphic design are not eligible for a patent. However, these can get protection under copyright or design law.<\/p>\n<p><u>Medical treatment methods<\/u>. In many countries, methods of treatment by surgery or therapy cannot be patented. This is meant to keep access to medical treatments free from commercial restrictions. However, medical devices or drugs can be protected.<\/p>\n<p><u>Discoveries of natural laws<\/u>. Natural phenomena, such as gravity, electricity or genetic codes, cannot be patented. While it is possible to patent inventions using these natural principles, the laws of nature themselves are excluded from protection.<\/p>\n<p><u>Inventions contrary to public order or morality<\/u>. Inventions that are harmful to society or deemed immoral, such as certain weapons or unethical biotechnological innovations, cannot be patented either.<\/p>\n<p>So there are some important exceptions to patentability and it is good to keep these in mind if you are working on a great invention and want to protect it.<\/p>\n<p>Still have a question about this, <a href=\"https:\/\/custos-ipc.nl\/en\/contact\/\">contact<\/a> please feel free to contact us. We are here to help you. We like to do that and do it well!<\/p>\n<a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\" class=\"cta-button\">Ask us a question<\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class='ewd-ufaq-permalink'>\n\t\n\t<a href='https:\/\/custos-ipc.nl\/en\/faq\/octrooibescherming-welke-uitvindingen-komen-niet-in-aanmerking\/'>\n\t\t\n\t\tPermalink\t\t <div class='ewd-ufaq-permalink-image'><\/div> \t\n\t<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patents can protect a wide range of inventions. But, there are also some subjects that are excluded from patent protection. These exclusions vary from country to country, but fortunately most patent systems follow similar guidelines. In this article, we list the main exclusions for obtaining a patent.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","ufaq-category":[],"ufaq-tag":[],"class_list":["post-13899","ufaq","type-ufaq","status-publish","hentry","description-off"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Wat is niet octrooieerbaar? Patent uitsluitingen | Custos IPC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wetenschappelijke ontdekkingen, wiskundige methoden, software en bedrijfsmethoden zijn niet octrooieerbaar. 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Patent exclusions | Custos IPC","description":"Scientific discoveries, mathematical methods, software and business methods are not patentable. All exclusions explained.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/custos-ipc.nl\/en\/faq\/patent-protection-which-inventions-do-not-qualify\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Wat is niet octrooieerbaar? Patent uitsluitingen | Custos IPC","og_description":"Wetenschappelijke ontdekkingen, wiskundige methoden, software en bedrijfsmethoden zijn niet octrooieerbaar. 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