This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the statutory framework governing patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101. We examine the four enumerated categories of invention—process, machine, manufacture, and composition of matter—and clarify the eligibility of improvements to existing technologies.

A central focus is the critical analysis of judicially created exceptions, including laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas. We discuss the requisite integration of these concepts into a practical application, underscored by an inventive concept, to overcome ineligibility. The discussion further distinguishes subject matter eligibility from the separate patentability requirements of novelty (§ 102) and non-obviousness (§ 103), providing clarity on the initial hurdles in patent prosecution. Key principles are illustrated through various scenarios emphasizing the importance of tangibility, functionality, and precise claim drafting.