Are there any exceptions to patent protection?

Yes, there are some exceptions to patent protection in Tennessee and throughout the United States. Under US patent law, inventions that are mere discoveries of natural laws and products of nature cannot be patented. Additionally, abstract ideas, scientific and mathematical concepts, and literary works aren’t patentable either. Any invention or concept that is contrary to public policy or is immoral, such as nuclear weapons or methods of human cloning, can’t be patented. Finally, anything that already exists and is in the public domain, known as “prior art,” can’t be patented either. This includes inventions that are already in the marketplace, published information, or material that was disclosed publicly at least one year prior to the filing of a patent application, even if the inventor was unaware of the prior art at the time of filing. Prior art can also include material that was publicly known but wasn’t officially disclosed, or material that was in development but not completed.

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Are there any exceptions to patent protection?

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