Can all inventions be patented?

Legal analysis: No. Invention-creation as mentioned in this Law refers to inventions, utility models and designs. Invention refers to a new technical scheme proposed for a product, method or its improvement. Utility model refers to a new practical technical scheme for the shape, structure or combination of products. Appearance design refers to a new design with aesthetic feeling and suitable for industrial application based on the shape, pattern or combination of products and the combination of colors, shapes and patterns. Article 5 No patent right shall be granted for inventions and creations that violate laws, social ethics or harm public interests. No patent right shall be granted to inventions and creations obtained or utilized in violation of laws and administrative regulations and completed by relying on genetic resources.

Legal basis: Civil Code of People's Republic of China (PRC).

Article 444 Where intellectual property rights such as the exclusive right to use a registered trademark, patent right or copyright are pledged, the pledge right shall be established at the time of pledge registration.

After the pledge of property rights in intellectual property rights, the pledgor may not transfer or license others to use them, unless the pledgor and the pledgee agree through consultation. The pledgor shall pay off the debts in advance to the pledgee or deposit the price for transferring or allowing others to use the pledged intellectual property rights.

Article 845 The contents of a technology contract generally include the name of the project, the content, scope and requirements of the subject matter, the plan, place and method of performance, the confidentiality of technical information and materials, the ownership of technical achievements and the way of profit distribution, the acceptance criteria and methods, and the interpretation of terms and conditions.

Technical background information, feasibility study and technical evaluation report, project task book and plan, technical standards, technical specifications, original design and process documents and other technical documents related to the performance of the contract may be taken as an integral part of the contract according to the agreement of the parties.

Where a technology contract involves a patent, it shall specify the name of the invention-creation, the applicant and patentee of the patent, the date of application, the application number, the patent number and the validity period of the patent right.