"Not be patented" refers to the condition or status of an invention or innovation that does not qualify for legal protection through a patent. A patent is a form of intellectual property right granted to the inventor or owner of a unique and non-obvious invention, giving them exclusive rights over the invention for a limited period of time. However, not all inventions are eligible for patent protection, and therefore, they are considered to be "not be patented."
This phrase typically applies to certain categories of inventions that fail to meet the various legal criteria set forth by the patent laws of a particular jurisdiction. Generally, inventions that cannot be patented include those that are naturally occurring phenomena, abstract ideas, laws of nature, or methods of doing business, as well as certain types of inventions that are deemed immoral, offensive, or contrary to public policy.
When an invention is declared to "not be patented," it means that the inventor or owner cannot obtain exclusive rights over the invention or prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing the invention without their consent. Consequently, the invention enters the public domain, becoming freely available for anyone to use, replicate, or improve upon without the fear of infringing upon any patent rights.
The notion of an invention being "not be patented" promotes accessibility, openness, and the free flow of knowledge by ensuring that certain types of innovations are not monopolized, and thus can benefit society as a whole.
