| Abstract: | Patents as intellectual property rights are of increasing importance in industry because they safeguard innovation. Besides, they are very helpful instruments for information. This is clearly evident from the increasing numbers of patent applications. The harmonization of laws and procedures in the field of patents has reached a high level worldwide. Important steps, however, remain to be achieved, e. g. the harmonization of regulations in the field of biotechnology or in the enforcement of intellectual property rights in cases of patent infringements. |
