ABSTRACT
In order to obtain patent protection in Europe, there are three
possible alternatives for an inventor: the national, European, and
international routes. The national and European procedures lead
to the grant of a patent, while an international patent application
must be continued as national or regional patent applications
after the international stage of prosecution has ended in order
to obtain patents in designated countries or regions. The most
important characteristics of the different routes are summarized in
the following.
