Are you sure? What's the point of having a United Europe if each state has seperate patenting laws? That'd be like California having different patent laws than Nevada. Though in fairness, a lot of California's laws are different than Nevada's, let alone Utah's! :) Hmmm, well, federalism has pluses and minuses. The ninth and tenth admendments to the United States constitution deal with the powers of each state and how they relate to the Federal governemnt. I'm sure the powers that be and other interested parties are duking it out in Europe over the very thing. I suppose it's all in the details and who has the sovereignty when it all gets worked out. I'm just glad I don't have to go through customs each time I cross state lines on the way to Canada and my United States money spends in each state without having to be exchanged. Though California has the Agriculture stop point on the way back. It's been there since atleast the 1930's. I saw it in a movie called the "Grapes of Wrath".
If Ed gets a European Patent, I'm sure you'll be the first to know.