Leaving the 2025 AIPLA Annual Meeting, I’m more energized than ever. Surrounded by brilliant legal minds and inspiring conversations, one topic clearly stole the show—artificial intelligence. The real highlight for me? USPTO Director John Squires’ first public address, where he offered much-needed clarity on patent eligibility for AI inventions.
Director Squires’ Vision: The Three Pillars of AI Patent Eligibility
Director Squires laid out a practical framework—three pillars—to help innovators patent AI inventions with confidence.
Pillar One: 35 U.S.C. § 100(b) and New Uses
Squires spotlighted an often-overlooked section of the Patent Act: 35 U.S.C. § 100(b). This provision defines “process” to include new uses of existing technologies. What does this mean for you? When you use AI to tackle problems in fields like healthcare, logistics, or finance, you’re delivering a new—and patentable—use of known tech.
Squires cited distributed ledger technology as an example. DL is well known, but fresh applications keep evolving. The same logic applies to AI: the technology moves forward every time a novel use is discovered.
Pillar Two: The Enfish Decision
The Enfish case established that improvements to computer data structures are patent eligible. That’s music to the ears of anyone innovating in AI, where data structures—the backbone of neural networks and learning models—are constantly advancing. Squires referenced Ex parte Desjardins to show that improvements in how AI learns and protects prior knowledge can meet the eligibility standard.
Pillar Three: Something More—The Morse Principle
Finally, Squires highlighted the need for “something more”—a practical application that transforms the invention. Drawing from Samuel Morse’s historic patents, Squires emphasized that it’s not enough to claim an abstract concept or a method in theory; inventors must show real-world implementation and improvement.
Why This Matters for Innovators
This matters to anyone working on AI solutions. Squires’ framework guides you on structuring your patent applications, what to emphasize in your claims, and how to demonstrate that all-important “something more.”
The AI Re-Engineering Revolution
Squires described today’s AI revolution as a moment of “bypass,” like the internet boom before it—a time when industries get re-engineered around breakthrough technology. He called for robust patent protection for those building truly transformative AI solutions. If you’re rethinking how industries operate—strengthening trust, accelerating diagnoses, or optimizing operations—now’s your chance to secure meaningful protection.
Moving Forward with Confidence
Director Squires’ three-pillar roadmap finally provides actionable clarity for AI patents at the USPTO. My team and I have helped inventors navigate this evolving landscape, and I’ve never been more optimistic. The USPTO’s new processes create an environment where your AI innovations can thrive and be protected.
Are you building the next breakthrough in AI? If so, this is your moment. Let’s work together to ensure your invention is protected using the very latest guidance from the USPTO. Take the first step—seize this unique opportunity to patent your AI-enabled ideas.
Schedule a consultation at meetwithrandi.com to explore how my team can help secure your patent.
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