>Maths (then algorithms aka software), data design, etc, should be excluded from patent scope.

So should ISAs. Interoperability should trump all.

I expect as RISC-V takes off, we will see the legacy ISA owners engage an ugly legal fight against companies using x86 emulation in their RISC-V based products. This is not an unlikely development.

And it will not end favorably, as they cannot possibly fight the entire industry.