It is often sensible in the course of monitoring to investigate into competitors′ future protective right activities.

In this connection, for example, in the course of monitoring for collisions, a trademark can be monitored for applications by third parties for similar trademarks, or in the course of monitoring the Patent Office Journal, a patent class can be monitored for future applications for patents for a class of products.

By means of specific monitoring, monopoly rights being striven for by competitors can be recognised at an early stage and cases of collision prevented.