请教欧洲专利条款Extent of Protection---修改的问题

New“protocol on the Interpretation of Art.69 Art.2 Equivalents\"

    \"For the purpose of datermining the extent of protection conferred by a European patent,due account shall be taken of any element which is equivalent to an element specified in the claims.\"

    请那位了解欧洲专利的专家，解释一下上述的意思，谢谢了。