Patents are remuneration and incentive for the research and development in all fields of technology. Even if a patent for an invention is finally granted only in singular countries or if, for other reasons, it is not further pursued to the granting of the patent, each published patent application has the effect that the respective invention belongs to the prior art at the date of publication and therefore cannot be content of a subsequently filed patent. Hence, patents and patent applications may be used as important strategic measure in the fight for market shares.Where are patent specifications published? The publications of the patent specifications are country specific, whereby more and more patent offices publish the patent specifications electronically (Internet) instead of providing printed publications (e.g. the United States of America).