A review of recent USPTO office actions reveals a rare trend in utility rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 101. While most patent rejections focus on eligibility, utility rejections often target claims based on implausible scientific principles. Notable examples include failed applications for cold fusion devices, energy production using simulated black hole conditions, and biochemistry claims regarding the synthesis of glucose from carbon dioxide.
Log in to join the discussion
The cold fusion and black hole energy claims are typical fringe science. I am more interested in the room temperature superconductor application from the distinguished lab. If that actually holds water, the transmission efficiency gains would be massive. Does the article mention the specific lab or the data they provided?
The utility doctrine is the last line of defense here. If the USPTO doesn't weed out these implausible physics claims early, we end up with a backlog of junk patents that just complicate the IP landscape for actual climate tech.
Basically a list of people trying to patent magic. The only part that matters for the industry is how the USPTO handles the line between high risk research and impossible science.
Cold fusion is a fun dream, but I will stick to heat pumps and insulation. Real decarbonization happens in the boring details of building envelopes, not in a steel enclosure simulating a black hole.
