You may be able to get a patent for computer software if it produces a useful and tangible result. In other words, you can receive protection for a specific application of a mathematical formula, even though you cannot receive protection for the formula.

The most common type of patent is a utility patent. You can potentially get a utility patent for a machine, an article of manufacture, a composition of matter, or a process or method that produces a useful and tangible result. You also may be able to get a patent for an improvement on any type of invention in the previous list. In addition to falling within one of these categories, the invention must be useful, novel, and non-obvious. (See below for more about these requirements.) You also can get a design patent for a design feature of a product if it is novel, non-obvious, and not related to the functionality of the product. Plants can qualify for a specific type of patent if they are novel and non-obvious. Large companies usually obtain these patents, which are rare.