For example, some disputes involve intellectual property rights, trademarks or patents, issues handled in federal court.
But the bigger problem, critics say, involves other patents that are valid under current rules but threaten the development of important new systems.
One of the most important examples involves patents on food crops and cloned animals.
The old breeding technique of crossing two plants rarely involves patents.
I've also served as an expert witness, testifying in a number of trials that involved patents.
Nearly all of the intellectual property cases involve patents.
The Community patent is still some way off and does not involve existing patents.
But, of course, since it involves research and patents on living tissues, the ethical aspects naturally absorbed our attention for many long hours.
Coexistence agreements can potentially also involve designs, copyrights and even patents.
Our Government claimed a great victory in a recent round of negotiation with Japan involving patents.