Patents only apply to man-made items, and natural things cannot be patented. HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Many of us have seen the conspiracy theories online about COVID-19, and whether it was man-made or not. The pandemic was declared just five months after the patent was approved, in … Bill Gates funded the PIRBRIGHT institute, which owns the patent on coronavirus. The definition of man made refers to something that was created by humans, as opposed to by God or nature. While the institute does hold a patent for a coronavirus that primarily affects chickens, it does not hold a patent on any part of the novel coronavirus causing the current COVID-19 pandemic. Chakrabarty, the Supreme Court found that Congress intended patentable subject matter to "include anything under the sun that is made by man." Patent definition, the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years. See more. See more. Email. See Diamond v. Chakrabarty, 447 U.S. 303 (1980). The virus conveniently went public only after its vaccine patent was approved, after patiently waiting 3 years for that to happen. Tweet. Many are truly gorgeous and not just the same old speckled patterns. But in recent years, most quartz countertop makers have introduced new colors and patterns that are a leap beyond their original stylings. Man-made definition, produced, formed, or made by humans. However, the Court also stated that this broad definition has limits and does not embrace every discovery. He didn’t patent his vaccine, but that doesn’t mean others shouldn’t. Updated: 19 Apr 2020, 07:15 PM IST IANS. Believe it or not, the coronavirus strain that’s currently spreading throughout China and abroad is a patented virus that’s owned by an entity called The Pirbright Institute, which is partially funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Man-made bacteria (by contrast, naturally occurring organisms are not patentable) Human genes that are identified and isolated are patentable because they are not naturally occurring when isolated. France's Luc Montagnier says SARS-CoV-2 virus was the result of an attempt to manufacture a vaccine against the AIDS virus. What does man-made mean? Business methods (e.g., FedEx's method of delivering packages overnight) What Does it Mean for an Invention to be "Novel?" Man-made stone doesn't possess the allure and unique colors, depth, textures or patterns of granite.