a) National Patent
This is the certificate awarded by the State according to which the rights are recognised to exclusively employ and use an invention in industry and commercialise and sell the manufactured objects proceeding from this invention for a determined time, according to the Law 11 /l 986 of 20th March, New Patent Law.In the tables drawn up by EUSTAT data is presented concerning published patents, generated in the Basque Country within the reference year and not those applied for in that year.

b) Patent by European channels.
This is the patent processed by the European Office of Patents in accordance with CPE (European Patent Agreement) and which permits the inventor, by means of a single patent application deposited at the above Office, to obtain protection in each and every one of the member states of the Agreement which he or she cares to designate. Once conceded, the European patent is divided into a bundle of national patents, subject to the legislation in the respective country.

c) World Patent.
This patent is processed in accordance with the Co-operation Treaty in Patent Matters and which permits the inventor, by means of a single patent application, to apply for protection in any designated country from amongst those adhering to the Treaty.