Protection laws such as patents and copyrights have become an important engine of European economic growth. According to a recent survey report jointly issued by the European Patent Office and the EU Internal Market Coordination Bureau, 35% of jobs in the EU are generated in industries that use intellectual property rights, such as IT or automobile manufacturing. In addition, 40% of the total value of 4.7 trillion euros created by EU economic activities belongs to the fields of computers, automobile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals or engineering, which are all intellectual property-intensive industries. In addition, 90% of the EU's foreign trade is attributed to these industries.
Barnier, the European Commissioner in charge of related affairs, pointed out: "The survey results clearly show that intellectual property rights are ubiquitous in economic activities and play an extremely important role in promoting innovation and creative development." BenoitBattistelli, director of the European Patent Office, said: "Intangible products such as patents are particularly important for innovative enterprises, which can pave the way for small and medium-sized enterprises, even scientific research institutions and universities to obtain capital and find customers. In order to keep our enterprises competitive under the background of globalization, Europe should give greater support in promoting development, innovation and new technology development. "