[News] Can't a perpetual motion machine be patented?

We often come across news claiming the invention of a perpetual motion machine.

However, in South Korea, a total of 177 patent applications related to perpetual motion machines or infinite power devices have been disclosed, yet not a single one has been officially registered. The reason is that the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) does not approve such patents due to their "lack of industrial applicability."

Most of these applications claim to generate continuous rotational force using pendulums or magnets without any external energy input. However, since all rotating objects are subject to friction, their rotational force gradually decreases according to the "law of conservation of energy," eventually coming to a stop. This fundamental principle is the primary reason for rejection.

From the perspective of current scientific knowledge, this is an undeniable fact.

A perpetual motion machine is theoretically defined as a device that, once set in motion with an initial external energy input, can continue to operate indefinitely without any additional energy supply while performing work.

For a device to be classified as a perpetual motion machine, it must meet the following conditions:

1. It must be able to perform continuous work without receiving external energy.

2. It must operate in a cyclic process, returning to its original state after each cycle.

3. In each cycle, it must produce a measurable amount of work output.

Does this mean that inventing an infinite power device that is scientifically verifiable is impossible?

Not necessarily.

If a system could compensate for energy losses due to friction or inefficiencies in energy conversion without incurring additional costs, the scenario would change.Potential sources of such supplementary energy include natural forces categorized as renewable energy, such as wind, wave power, ocean thermal energy conversion, salinity gradient power, and solar energy. However, the key challenge lies in harnessing these energies in a stable and reliable manner. If this issue can be resolved, the invention of a perpetual motion machine may not be entirely out of reach.

In other words, if we reinterpret the definition of a perpetual motion machine from "operating without external energy input" to "operating without economic cost," it may become feasible.

Inventions that disregard energy efficiency might be thought-provoking from a theoretical perspective, but they lack practical industrial value and are unlikely to be recognized as patents.

Many inventors focus solely on perpetual motion devices or exclusively on renewable energy, failing to consider the potential synergies between the two. This calls for a shift in perspective.

Ultimately, inventions and patents are not about realizing theories or ideals but about creating tangible economic value from an industrial standpoint.