abstract idea

abstract idea. Intellectual property. A concept or thought, removed from any tangible embodiment. • An abstract idea is one of the categories of unpatentable subject matter, along with natural phenomena and laws of nature. But a process that uses abstract ideas to produce a useful result can be patented. Copyright law likewise will not protect an abstract idea, but only its expression. The law of unfair competition, on the other hand, does protect abstract ideas that meet the other criteria of a trade secret. See business-method patent under PATENT.

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词条贡献者

译者Mathew，国际知名法学院国际仲裁与争端解决专业，擅长翻译各种与美国国内仲裁相关的法律文件。