This volume thoroughly covers and systematically displays the three main areas of intellectual property law - patents, trade marks and copyright - without leaving other rights of the intellectual property family aside, as it also explores geographical indications, industrial designs, trade secrets and databases. The book offers a full and complete picture of European intellectual property law, discussing the treatment of intrinsic issues on harmonization, transborder disputes, collectiveness and individualization in the different fields of intellectual property law. With an original introduction by the editor, this book has been carefully designed to offer law students as well as practitioners a valuable instrument to understand contemporary intellectual property law within the EU.