Non-patentable ideas, discoveries & professional achievements • Priority-claims and priority-certificates are specifically designed to cover ideas and discoveries which CANNOT BE PROTECTED BY PATENTS & COPYRIGHT such as: scientific discoveries, abstract ideas, theories, business strategies, and professional achievements (i.e. they are non-patentable). The Supreme Court of the USA has repeatedly ruled that patents copyright cannot be obtained for the above categories (invention patents can be obtained only for machines, processes, compositions of matter, and manufacturing products). • The wide majority of ideas, discoveries & professional achievements are non-patentable. For instance, most ideas and discoveries disclosed in academic journals and for which scientists and academics get promotions, tenure and prizes are non-patentable.  • Non-patentable categories for which priority-claims and priority-certificates can be obtained: (1). ideas (2). discoveries (3). strategies (4). solutions to problems (5). explanations (6) thesis, hypothesis, conjectures (7). theories (8). mathematical proofs (9). mathematical / computer models for engineering, physical, biological systems (10). early stage not-enabled inventions (11). professional achievements (e.g. first to perform a certain surgical or medical procedure)

Examples of priority-claims in a wide range of fields Information Sciences & technology A person may file a priority-claim that she/he is the first to propose: • a certain strategy or regulation protecting against identity theft   • a certain strategy or regulation ensuring the fair assigning / use of internet resources • a strategy for ensuring that internet providers comply with the network neutrality rules • a strategy or law / regulation for reducing email spam • a strategy / law for reducing spyware Biological Sciences A person may file a priority-claim that she/he is the first to propose: • the thesis that a specific disease is due to deficiency of vitamin B1 • the thesis that a specific molecular mechanism is associated with cell communication • a theory explaining the proliferation of cancer cells A person may file a priority-claim for the: • discovery of a certain protein-like structure in an unusual deep sea bacteria • discovery of a new type of bacteria living in hot springs and capable of surviving high temperatures   • discovery that a certain protein is involved in the mechanism of ionic absorption in cells • discovery that a disease is correlated with a certain genetic mutation • discovery of a mechanism associated with the inhibition of cancer cell growth • discovery of a phenomenon associated with DNA replication • discovery of a certain chemical reaction in a specific metabolic pathways Medicine A person may file a priority-claim asserting that he/she is: • the first to perform a certain surgical procedure • the first to perform a certain type of heart / eye / kidney transplant • the first to perform a certain type of therapy (may be a therapy extended over six months) • the first to perform a certain diagnostic / imaging procedure • the first to use a certain treatment method on a type-2 diabetes person A person may file a priority-claim that she/he is the first to propose: • a certain new therapy or treatment method • a certain new strategy for treating a specific disease • a thesis that a disease is caused by a specific genetic mutation • the use of a certain steroid for treating a certain disease • a new medical imaging method based on a certain physical phenomenon Economics A person may file a priority-claim that she/he is the first to propose: • a specific theory for evaluating the effects of increasing minimum wage • a specific theory explaining the subprime mortgage market collapse • a specific law or legal frame for stimulating economic growth • a legal frame eliminating conflicts of interest affecting credit rating agencies   • a specific strategy for decreasing income disparity and reducing poverty • a strategy for integrating persons with disabilities into the work force Business, Management & Accounting A person may file a priority-claim that she/he is the first to propose: • a new business strategy or procedure • a new management strategy and/or method • a new accounting procedure Healthcare Administration & Public Health A person may file a priority-claim that she/he is the first to propose: • a strategy for monitoring the needs of persons with disabilities • a strategy for reducing the number of unnecessary surgeries • a procedure for reducing the probability of missed diagnosis in emergency departments • a method for protecting against over-billing • a procedure/strategy for exchanging medical records between hospitals • a strategy for protecting patient privacy and for protecting against theft of medical records • a medical insurance procedure or strategy Physics & Astronomy In physics and astronomy a person may assert, via a priority-claim, that she/he is: • the first to measure the mass of a fundamental particle • the first to discover a new type of galactic pulsars • the first to observe and photograph a galaxy, the rings of a certain planet, or a black hole • the first to calculate a constant associated with the big-bang • the first to predict super-conductivity in a certain material • the first to calculate the reaction time in nuclear fission Environmental Sciences In the earth and atmospheric sciences, a person may assert, via a priority-claim, that she/he is: • the first proponent of the thesis that the global decrease in bee population is due to the use of a certain fertilizer • the first to discover ozone depletion in the stratosphere • the first proponent of a specific theory explaining formation of tornadoes • the first to explain global warming cycles • the first to calculate the global increase in atmospheric temperature Social Work & Public Policy In social sciences and public policy, a person may assert, via a priority-claim, that she/he is: • the first proponent of a new strategy for reducing homelessness • the first proponent of a new psychotherapy method • the first proponent of a new strategy for monitoring the needs of persons with disabilities • the first proponent of a new method for preventing drunk driving • the first proponent of a method for identifying high risk suicide teenagers • the first proponent of a specific method for training service dogs for the elderly Education & Training In education and training, a person may assert, via a priority-claim, that she/he is: • the first proponent of a specific new training method • the first proponent of a new method for evaluating the needs of students with disabilities • the first proponent of a new method for testing students suffering from dyslexia and/or autism • the first proponent of a certain method for preventing bullying in schools Law & Legal Sciences In the legal field, a person may assert, via a priority-claim, that she/he is: • the first proponent of a certain legal argument • the first proponent of a litigation strategy • the first proponent of a law for improving efficiency at the Social Security Administration • the first proponent of a legal frame eliminating conflicts of interest affecting credit rating agencies • the first proponent of a specific law or legal frame for lowering healthcare costs Diplomacy In diplomacy, a person may assert, via a priority-claim, that she/he is: • the first proponent of a solution to an international political crisis • the first proponent of a certain provision / stipulation in a trade agreement • the first proponent of a mechanism for enforcing an intellectual property treaty Anthropology In anthropology, a person may assert, via a priority-claim, that she/he is: • the first proponent of the thesis that life first appeared in hot springs Mathematics In mathematics, a person may assert, via a priority-claim, that she/he is: • the first to find a solution to a problem • the first to propose a strategy for solving a certain system of differential equations • the first to find a certain proof of a theorem • the first to propose an algorithm for finding fast converging solutions of a certain differential equation