What types of inventions can be covered by a patent?
A surprising number of things can be covered under a patent. Mechanical inventions (like the Wright Brothers “flying machine”), chemical inventions, certain kinds of plants, methods and processes for making things, software routines, and even the DNA in some animals can all be protected. Virtually any new concept that a person can create might be eligible for patent protection; so long as it performs a function and it would not otherwise be obvious.
