Which of the following is not patentable?

• A. Computer program
• B. A therapeutic machine
• C. Mere arrangement of bacteria
• D. Procedures for computing profits

Answer: (A)

Patentable subject matter requires a technical contribution or practical application. A computer program, by itself, is an abstract set of instructions and does not implement a technical invention unless it is tied to a specific hardware or process that produces a technical result. Because of that, a computer program as such is not patentable.

The other options describe things that can be patentable when they embody a true technical solution or invention: a therapeutic machine is a device that can be patented if it meets novelty and non-obviousness; a mere arrangement of bacteria would need to involve a novel, non-obvious biological invention rather than just a simple rearrangement; procedures for computing profits fall into mathematical or business methods, which are typically not patentable unless there’s a concrete technical application or effect.