What Is The Patentability Of Quantum Algorithms?

(The following article by our very own Phil Merchant originally appeared on the Dead Cat Live Cat blog, and is being shared here with thanks to Dead Cat Live Cat.)

Quantum hardware is rapidly progressing, and innovators are finding success in securing patent protection for their developments. Alongside this progress, inventors are also investing their efforts in the software that quantum computers will run. In this article, we consider what considerations and practice must patent applicants consider when seeking patent protection for their quantum algorithms.

Quantum computing promises to unlock the potential of quantum phenomena on real-word hardware to achieve significant increases in processing speed. Some research groups are already claiming to have achieved "quantum supremacy" – meaning a quantum device has performed a calculation that no classical computer can solve in a feasible amount of time. Large corporations, start-ups and research groups are making