Statutory subject matter refers to the types of ideas, inventions, or concepts that are legally considered eligible for protection under intellectual property laws. Specifically, it pertains to the subject matter that fulfills the criteria set forth in the statutes governing patents, copyrights, or other forms of intellectual property.
In the context of patent law, statutory subject matter refers to the subject matter that is deemed eligible for patent protection. The statute typically lists specific categories of inventions or discoveries that are considered patentable. In most countries, these categories include processes, machines, compositions of matter, and new and useful improvements thereof. However, there are exceptions and exclusions to these categories, and certain subject matter may be deemed ineligible, such as abstract ideas, laws of nature, or natural phenomena that occur in nature.
Similarly, in copyright law, statutory subject matter refers to the types of original works that are eligible for copyright protection. This may include literary works, musical compositions, artistic creations, computer programs, and various other forms of creative expression. However, certain works, such as facts, ideas, or functional elements, may not be considered eligible for copyright protection as they are either not deemed original or fall outside the scope of copyright law.
In summary, statutory subject matter determines what types of inventions or works can be protected under intellectual property laws by establishing the categories or criteria that make them eligible for protection.
