What is a requirement for patenting a "method of doing business"?

For a method of doing business to be patentable, it must involve technological arts. This reflects the standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Bilski v. Kappos, wherein the Court emphasized that a business method must produce a “useful, concrete, and tangible result.” The involvement of technological aspects means that the claimed method should incorporate a technical feature or contribute to a technological field, which distinguishes it from abstract ideas or mere business concepts that do not confer a specific technological advancement.

Focusing on the importance of technological arts, if a method of doing business is purely abstract or conventional without any technical aspect, it typically does not satisfy the criteria for patent eligibility. Therefore, identifying technological contributions is critical for advancing a business method patent.

The other choices present conditions that either do not align with patentability criteria or impose restrictions that would not facilitate a successful patent claim. For instance, stating that the method must be routine and conventional would not support patentability, as novel and non-obvious methods are necessary. Likewise, requiring the method to be previously patented contradicts the very essence of acquiring a new patent. Lastly, suggesting that a method must avoid any business implications significantly misrepresents the scope of patentable subject matter