Final answer:
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that there are three classes of items that cannot be patented: natural phenomena, abstract ideas or theories, and laws of nature. Correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that there are three classes of items that cannot be patented:
- Natural phenomena, such as gravity or electromagnetic forces.
- Abstract ideas or theories.
- Laws of nature.
These categories are established to ensure that patents are only granted for novel and non-obvious inventions, rather than things that are inherently part of our world or existing knowledge.