Section 13 Patent and Utility Models §13.1. Purpose The purpose of this Section is to provide for the promotion of inventive and innovative activities, to facilitate the acquisition of technology through the grant and regulation of patents and utility models. §13.2. Scope of Inventions, Patents; Patentability a) The following matters shall not be regarded as inventions for the purpose of this Part: i. matter that does not comply with the definition of invention under Section 13.1 of this Act; ii. discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods; iii. schemes, rules or methods for doing business, performing mental acts or playing games; iv. products of nature and substances obtained or extracted from nature, even if purified or otherwise isolated from nature; this exclusion shall not apply to the processes of isolating those natural substances; v. computer programs and the presentation of information; vi. methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, as well as diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body; this provision shall not apply to products for use in any of those methods. b) The following matter shall be excluded from patent protection: i. plants and animals, including parts thereof, other than micro-organisms, and essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals and parts thereof, other than non-biological and microbiological processes; ii. animals and plants varieties; inventions, the prevention within the territory of Liberia of the commercial exploitation of which is necessary to protect public order or morality; such exclusion shall not be made merely because the exploitation of those inventions is prohibited upon by law or subject to regulation; pharmaceutical products until January 1, 2016, or until the expiry of such a later period of extension agreed upon the World Trade Organization for least Developed Countries. c) The Director General may by regulation determine that any exclusion under this sub-section is suspended should national policy or market circumstances so require pursuant to the policy directives of the Minister. 66