industrial application

Industrial application of an invention for the purposes of the Patents Act 1977 UK is satisfied when the invention is able to be made or used in any type of industry.

Industry refers to manufacturing, agriculture, and any other commercial enterprise - the invention must have a useful purpose in commerce. It is important to remember that patent law protects the industrial arts, as opposed to the fine arts - which is the province of copyright protection. 

Methods of treatment that involve an element of surgery, therapy and methods of diagnosis exclude inventions from satisfying the requirement of industrial application: s 4(2), Patents Act 1977 UK.

Usage: The pesticide had the effect of reducing weeds and satisfied the requirement of industrial application.

Related Words: patentable invention; entitlement to patents; novelty; inventive step; obviousness; industrial application; revocation of patents.