Patents cannot be applied for methods that have been disclosed.
According to the "Patent Law of the People's Republic of China" (2008 amendment)
Conditions for granting patent rights
Article 22 Grant of patent rights Inventions and utility models must be novel, creative and practical.
Novelty means that the invention or utility model does not belong to the existing technology; no unit or individual has applied for the same invention or utility model to the patent administration department of the State Council before the application date, and It shall be recorded in patent application documents or published patent documents published after the filing date.
Creativity means that compared with the existing technology, the invention has outstanding substantive features and significant progress, and the utility model has substantive features and progress.
Practiceability means that the invention or utility model can be manufactured or used and can produce positive effects.
The term "existing technology" as used in this Law refers to the technology that was known to the public at home and abroad before the filing date.
Article 24 If an invention-creation for which a patent is applied for falls under any of the following circumstances within six months before the filing date, the novelty will not be lost:
(1) In China Exhibited for the first time at an international exhibition sponsored or recognized by the government;
(2) Published for the first time at a prescribed academic conference or technical conference;
(3) Others have not The content is disclosed with the consent of the applicant.