Legal Definitions - nonstaple

Definition: A component of a patented product or process that has little or no practical use outside of the patent. Patent holders have limited control over the market for nonstaples through tying agreements, but if the component is a staple, the agreement is considered a restraint of trade.

• A specialized chemical used in a patented manufacturing process that has no other practical applications.
• A specific type of screw used in a patented product that cannot be easily substituted with a different type of screw.

These examples illustrate how nonstaples are components that are essential to a patented product or process, but have little or no use outside of that context. Patent holders can use tying agreements to control the market for these components, but only if they are nonstaples. If the component is a staple, such as a commonly used screw, then a tying agreement would be considered a restraint of trade.