Updating ......

I will start updating this website/blog soon; especially the files for download. 

I may take the site off line for a while, but don't worry .....

EQE 2012 enrolment

For those wanting to enrol for the EQE 2012, take a look here.

Procedural Law under the EPC-2000, 2nd Edition, 2011

 


Andreas Veronese and Peter Watchhorn have updated their book "Procedural Law under the EPC-2000, 2nd Edition, 2011". The book can be purchased from their website, http://www.epc-compass.com.

Andreas and Peter write the following:

"We have updated the book to the legal changes which have entered into force over the last three years since the publication of the first edition in 2008. In particular, the "Raising the Bar" rule changes have been explained in this second edition (search limitations, time limits for filing divisional applications, provision of search results on claimed priorities, indication of amendments and their basis and mandatory response to the European search opinion or the Written Opinion prepared by the EPO in the PCT). We also dealt with the reform of the fee system (the unitary designation fee, shortened pre-payment of the renewal fees, page fees due on filing etc) which came into force in 2009 and the transitional provisions for all of these changes are also dealt with in this second edition, where relevant.

This second edition of "Procedural Law" is suitable for the study for, and for use in the EQE of 2012 (as is the second edition of our book "PCT Procedures and Passage into the European Phase" published last year)."

For those who are familiar with this book (or the book on the PCT they also wrote) please post your opinion/ review as a comment.

Good luck !!!

To all of you doing the EQE next week I wish you a lot of success and good luck !

Use the coming weekend to organise your study materials that you plan on taking to the exam. For the rest, try to relax as much as possible (I know, easy for me to say :-)).

If you used any of the materials available on this website, I hope it helped you in your preparation.
Feel free to send me comments and/or recommendations so I can update and improve the tools. I realise the activity on this blog has been low for quite some time, yet I can assure you that EQETools will stay.


 

Updated PCT Newsletter summary

An updated PCT newsletter summary is available in the download section of this website. The summary contains the practical advices of all newsletters and some further information that I thought could be useful. Of course you should judge for yourself if the summary is complete enough to take to the EQE. The practical advices usually are quite good studying material. Try to answer the question yourself first before reading the answer....did you come up with the same ???

Don't forget to get yourself a copy of the excellent book on the PCT by Cees Mulder !

Updated document Implementing Regulations

The Implementing Regulations will change per January 1, 2011.

New Rule 70(b)
Amended Rule 141



NOTE: DO NOT USE THESE AMENDED RULES FOR THE EQE 2011 !!!

You can find the updated editable document in the download area, or by clicking here.

Updated G Summary available !!!

I know you have all been waiting for this and reminded me from time to time that it was still not there. I told most of you that I would post an updated version well before the EQE. Well, good news, the G Summary has been updated and is now available for download. Either go to the download pages, or click here for a direct download.

I wish you all the best for 2011 !!

PS: Note that the EQETools LinkedIN group is steadily growing. Feel free to join the group and post your questions, concerns, thoughts etc. etc.

Updated document Implementing Regulations

In view of the amendment of Rule 36 effective from October 26, 2010 an updated version of the Rules is now available for download.

Coffee break questions from the EPO

Surfing the EPO website I found a link that allows automatic e-mails be sent containing what the EPO calls "Coffee Break Questions". So far I have received two of such questions, see below for an example.

The EPO PschorrHöfe building in the Bayerstrasse (not the main building, but the one across the street) has a very nice "sky bar" for EPO employees (or lost attorneys :-)) to enjoy a good coffee after an excellent lunch. This is not the place for people wanting a quick shot of caffeine but rather a place to stay around for some time, to enjoy the view over Munich and of course the coffee.

Why am I writing this down ...

Well, first of all because the questions I have received so far are so easy that the coffee break will be very short if you focus solely on the answer of the question. However, this source of questions may nevertheless help you in your preparations by thinking bit further on the specific subject. Doing so may want you to decide to take another cappuccino. 

Question one was the following:

An invention can be patented only if it is new. What is the relevant date for determining the state of the art?

- The filing date
- The priority date
- The priority date if there is one, otherwise the filing date


The answer is not difficult, it probably takes a few seconds. However, you may want to consider the following:
- What are the other requirements for patentability? What is the legal basis ?
- What if the claimed invention is not the same invention as in the priority document?
- Following the previous question, what legal basis (Articles, Rules, Case Law) deals with the right to priority, and more specifically what is meant with "the same invention".
- What is the difference between prior art under Article 54(2) an 54(3) ? How is this related to the priority issue.
- What are the requirements for getting a filing date? Legal basis?
- etc. etc.

You can subscribe at the EQE-Online website.

Enjoy your coffee !!!

Looking for fellow EQE candidates ?

If you're looking for fellow EQE candidates and discuss about the exams, the EQE-online forum may be your choice. 

An alternative for you to consider may be the EQETools LinkedIN group that is in existing for some time now, offering you not only the chance to post your concerns, questions and thoughts but also to expand your professional network. Being a European Patent Attorney allows you to do your job in all countries of the Convention (if you would like that of course ...). So, knowing some people here and there may be beneficial for your future career. Needless to say there's a lot more advantages that the LinkedIN network has to offer.

The group is open to both EQE candidates as qualified attorneys.

You can join the group by going to the LinkedIn website and browse for the group EQETools. There you can request to join (you need to sign in first).