Are "instructions on how business should be conducted" regarded as patentable subject matter?

"Instructions on how business should be conducted" are generally categorized as methods of doing business, which fall into a category that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) frequently views as unpatentable subject matter. This is rooted in the understanding that abstract ideas, including broad business concepts without a specific technological application, do not meet the criteria for patentability. The courts have established that mere instructions on business practices do not contribute a novel and non-obvious invention that can be patented.

While certain business models may become patentable if they include a novel and useful technological component, the general rule is that standalone instructions or guidelines for conducting business lack the inventive step required to be considered patentable. Therefore, the view that such instructions oppose patentability aligns with established legal precedent and patentability standards.

This focuses on the underlying principle that for an invention to be patentable, it must fall within the categories defined by 35 U.S.C. § 101, which include processes, machines, manufactures, or compositions of matter, emphasizing the need for the subject matter to involve a concrete and tangible outcome beyond abstract ideas.