Patenting Quantum Computing Innovations – Part 2: Implementing a Pauli Z Gate

Quantum computing inventions come in a variety of forms. They include hardware and hardware-related inventions that are directed to components of a quantum computer or processes carried out by the hardware to carry out quantum computing processing. They also include software-related inventions that, e.g., implement a new quantum computing algorithm for achieving a useful end. Quantum computing inventions are often useful, contain a technological advance and in many cases include specific hardware components. However, as illustrated by the American Axle and Symantec cases, none of these properties are sufficient to confer patent eligibility.