Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a design or an idea which belongs to the person who invented it. The law prohibits others from copying it. The EU has common rules for intellectual property, for example biotechnical patents.
Future
The Council has agreed on common rules for a new Community patent and a new Patent Court to be established by 2010. The Lisbon Treaty treats this subject in Art. 118 TFEU. Legislative acts may confer on the Court of Justice jurisdiction in disputes relating to acts which create European intellectual property rights; according to the new proposed Art.262 TFEU, the Council shall continue to act by unanimity. Trade in intellectual property is added to the EU trade competence in Art. 207.1 TFEU.
Links
See also European Patent Office.
European Commission: Copyright and Neighbouring Rights: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/copyright/index_en.htm
