Can you patent a math formula?
<p>Today I saw <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNxDPgnBGns" rel="nofollow">this video</a> about this video game called <em>No Man's Sky</em>. They say Hello Games - the creater of No Man's Sky - is possibly using a math formula patented by another compony.</p>

<p>This really surprised me, can you patent a math formula? And if so, how complex does it have to be? (Complex as in long or difficult, not the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_number" rel="nofollow">complex numbers</a>.) Could someone for example patent the formula <code>y = 3x - 5</code>?</p>

<p>Math formulas are not patentable.</p>

<p>Gottschalk v Benson held that mathematical formula and mere algorithms for computing numbers cannot be patented, nor can claims that are so broad as to preclude all possible uses of such a formula or algorithm.</p>

<p>Alice v CLS bank is the Supreme Court's most recent restatement of this.</p>

<p>I would imagine that you can't patent a math formula - It strikes me that a formula is a fact and you can't patent a fact. </p>

<p>I don't believe they are talking about the formula in the sense of a pure mathematical formula, <strong>rather they are talking about the way its applied</strong> - ie as a ranking system (which they argue is based on a mathematical formula).   This is a much grayer area, and its patent-ability will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction [ again, assuming the case is as portrayed by the dutch company].   The youtube summary appears to be misleading (when compared with the documents in the video) </p>

patents