Requirements for Patent Protection ·Novelty If the idea is already known Nothing of value has been produced 。Non-obviousness If anyone who needs the idea can easily hire someone to produce it Not much of value has been produced Usefulness.Old definition:Not pernicious Story:"a new invention to poison people,or to promote debauchery,or to facilitate private assassination,is not a patentable invention" Argument for the old definition:If the inventor wants to waste money getting a patent on something nobody wants to do,why should we object? New definition:Useless means not useful. Yet.No reason to reward premature invention One reason:Knowing a chemical can be synthesized is a reason to look for usesRequirements for Patent Protection • Novelty • If the idea is already known • Nothing of value has been produced • Non-obviousness • If anyone who needs the idea can easily hire someone to produce it • Not much of value has been produced • Usefulness. Old definition: Not pernicious • Story: “a new invention to poison people, or to promote debauchery, or to facilitate private assassination, is not a patentable invention” • Argument for the old definition: If the inventor wants to waste money getting a patent on something nobody wants to do, why should we object? • New definition: Useless means not useful. • Yet. No reason to reward premature invention • One reason: Knowing a chemical can be synthesized is a reason to look for uses