EPO as a PCT Authority (31 Oct 21) now available to order

EPO as a PCT Authority collects and organises the implementation details when the EPO operates under PCT It covers PCT filing (RO), search (ISA, SISA), and examination (IPEA) before the EPO. It also covers PCT-Direct, Supplementary PCT Search, regional entry into the European phase (DO/EO), and formalities after EP entry.

It is useful for daily practice by those dealing with the EPO. It also includes references considered essential for EQE exam candidates. 

It includes Indexed Versions of PCT-relevant Guidelines:

• Euro-PCT Guide (EPG) - 1 Jan 21
• EPO-PCT Guidelines (GL/PCT-EPO) - 1 Mar 21
• EPO Guidelines (GL/EPO) – PCT part only (Ch. E-IX) - 1 Mar 21

Our Indexed Versions improves on the official version by grouping the index entries at the front and abbreviating entries to allow quick scanning, using page numbers to speed up getting to the correct page, indicating sections with significant changes in the last 3 years, including the complete official sources, retaining the original paragraph structure and the underlining of the legal citations, and modifying the contents to fully use the page size, giving better overviews of paragraphs.

It also includes:

• Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) and Validation procedures
• OJEPO Decisions, Fees & Reductions for PCT
• PCT Annexes for EPO as RO / (S)ISA / IPEA / DO-EO
• PCT Applicant Forms & EP Entry Form 1200
• Examples of PCT-related EPO communications

This version reflects the legal status on 31 Oct 21, so it is the official version for EQE 2022 Main Exam & Pre-Exam. See this post for comments on which legal texts to use. Note that answers at the EQE based on EPG and EPO-PCT Guidelines should be supported by EPC Articles, Rules, GL/EPO Guidelines (IPREE R.22) citations.

New this year is the A4-format (210 x 297mm) created by Ignacio Lobato, which reduces the page count. We now offer two versions, both with black and white contents:

1) Portable Edition - 17mm thick, using thinner 50gr "bible paper" to reduce the thickness and the weight to 750gr.

2) Study Edition - using thicker 80gr paper, which is more suitable for intensive tabbing, annotating and highlighting. It is 26mm thick and weighs 1250 gr.

We have also extended the details on Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), added translation details to the EPC state overview, and extended the details on validation (including procedural flowcharts). Some of these EPO-specific details have been moved from the PCT Global Reference book.

The National Law & Validation book will no longer be produced. Access to www.epo.org during the exam will be available through External References, and online is the quickest way to find the required up-to-date National Law details. I have also moved the Validation details to EPO as a PCT Authority.

For more details, including the order links, and sample pages, see: fireballpatents.com/study-materials