This chapter begins by outlining the dematerialisation of subject matter that has occurred over the last two decades or so and the problems that this has created for the law. I then explain the aims of the book, namely to look at three situations where patent law has already dealt with a dematerialised subject matter and the role that science and technology played in helping the law to accommodate that subject matter. I end by explaining the particular way that I approach subject matter in the book.

This chapter begins by outlining the changes that took place in second half of the nineteenth century with the rise of structural formula in chemistry and what this meant for patent law. Of particular importance was that it led to a shift away from the materiality of chemical compounds to more paper-based speculative inventions. The chapter ends by looking at what this dematerialisation of chemical subject matter meant and how the law responded.

Industry is a major contributor to climate change. Many industrial sites, supply chains and customers are vulnerable to climate change and policy and consumer responses to climate change. Profits from industrial production depend on consumer demand, and how products are provided. Powerful forces such as digitalisation, dematerialisation, decentralisation, electrification, efficiency improvement and circular economies influence production and emissions Industrial firms face pressure from regulators, investors and customers. However, there is enormous potential to capture multiple benefits through aggressive, innovative decarbonisation strategies that target growth markets and involve cooperation along supply chains. Economic productivity and business competitiveness improvement can cut business costs and reduce extreme weather risk exposure, whilst positioning manufacturing companies for fast-growing markets in low-carbon resilient products and services. The chapter overviews policies national and subnational government policymakers can consider to support transition to a zero-carbon resilient industrial sector.