The two types are European invention patents and EU design patents.

■European Invention Patent

A European patent is granted to an invention that has industrial applicability, absolute novelty and creativity. Up to now, EPO has 34 member countries and 4 extension countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia). With the accession of Norway and Croatia on January 1, 2008, EPO's authorized patents are effective in 38 European countries (including 34 contracting countries and 4 extension countries).

■EU Design

EU design patents are applied directly to the EU Trademark and Patent Office and are valid in 28 countries at the same time. The 28 member states of the EU include: France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.