Legal Definitions - species claim

A species claim is a type of patent claim that is limited to a single invention, such as a specific machine, process, or composition of matter. It is a formal statement that describes the unique features of the invention and defines the scope of the patent's protection.

• A patent claim for a specific type of car engine that uses a new type of fuel injection system would be a species claim.
• A patent claim for a particular method of manufacturing a drug would also be a species claim.

These examples illustrate how a species claim is used to protect a specific invention, rather than a broad category of similar inventions. It ensures that the inventor has exclusive rights to their unique creation and prevents others from copying it without permission.