An invention may be patented through a national route, a European route, or an international routeusing the international patent system. If an applicant seeks protection in only one or two states, he usually takes the national route and files with the national patent office of the state in which he seeks patent protection. If the applicant seeks protection in three or more European countries, he usually chooses a European patent. In this context, it is important to look profoundly the historical evolution of national and regional patent systems within the Europe.
Key words: patent law, legislation, invention, national system, harmonizing, convention, protection