As a second step that potential market is fenced off by trying to obtain patent rights. Two routes tend to be followed for swiftly obtaining sufficient rights: (1) drafting and prosecution of applications; and (2) acquisition of patent rights, both pre- and post-grant. Companies tend to generate patent rights on the basis of an internal document that discloses a potential invention. The use of a priority year can be advantageous when it comes to getting a feel for the likelihood of prospects on patent protection. Also, with regard to that theoretical maximum length of protectable time as squeezable out of a patent application, some nuances need to be made.