An overview of the European patent system with particular emphasis on IP issues for imaging devices

In this article we give a comprehensive review of the European Patent System with focus on the procedure, its typical duration, the requirements that must be met at the various stages in order to obtain an European Patent and its related costs. All the options available to the applicant are discussed in detail, potential pitfalls are highlighted, and the differences between the European and US Patent Systems are analysed. Furthermore, an in-depth and very informative analysis of applications and granted patents in the field of imaging devices is presented including a study of their evolution during the last 10 years together with an analysis of the countries and companies that are most active in the field of imagers.