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Recent legislation and patent policies have a tendency to give strong protection to inventors broadening patent subject matters and strengthening patent rights. Research tool protection may be one good example reflected such a tendency. This article reviews issues surrounding research tools such as the definition, nature and patentability of research tools and justification of research tool patent. Research tools are broadly defined as the full range of resources that scientists use in the laboratory. However, research tools can be end products for research tool providers. That is, research tools are means to achieve research goals for users but are end products for providers. In protecting research tools under patent law, the first hurdle is whether they are patent subject matters. However, actually this is not an obstacle for patent protection subsequent to Diamond v. Chakrabarty where the Court find anything on earth to be patent subject matters. Even after Chakrabarty, research tools meet one obstacle for patent, utility requirement. U.S. PTO guidelines for examining utility and court decisions require the applicant to establish for the invention “specific and substantial utility that is credible. ” Accordingly, it is not enough for the applicant to prove that utilities of the invention are research intermediates, tools for further research and not the final product of any research effort. Even if research tools satisfy patent requirements, research tool patents are not always justified under patent law. Without research tool patent, research can be more competitive but less incentive is given to inventors. On the other hand, research tool patents make research controlled by tool patent holders. When inventors’ private interests are balanced with public interests in society, patent protection of research tools can be justifiable. The study on research tools is on the early stage. Despite that, because research tools deeply influence the development of research, international organizations and each country are making the policies of research tools which are carried into effect as a form of the guideline or directive.