Friday, February 17, 2012

Useful PCT reference for German candidates

Unfortunately, PCT does not provide an Applicants Guide in German.

However, there is a useful book about PCT. In partiicular, there is a section (page 30-39) describing the PCT remedy system [Schutzvorkehrungen und Verfahrenssicherungen für internationale Anmeldungen]
and a seminar

Standard abbreviations - German

Never make an abbreviation list as part of your EQE answer – it wastes time and these abbreviations may be used on the EQE without giving the meaning. They are completely clear to all who mark the exam.

Standard abbreviations - English

Never make an abbreviation list as part of your EQE answer – it wastes time and these abbreviations may be used on the EQE without giving the meaning. They are completely clear to all who mark the exam.

Using abbreviations on the EQE

Every year, there is a meeting between tutors and the examination committee, and every year the Examination committee informs the tutors that a list of abbreviation is not required.

This is mainly something that German candidates do because they are used to doing this when writing legal petitions under their national law. It is sometimes also confusing because candidate answers chosen for the EQE compendium also have it in (the examination committees do not edit these answers).

It is not forbidden, but it is not required - if you do it, you will only lose time. How do you know which abbreviations you will actually use?

Your answers are marked by experienced attorneys who know the exam in great detail - they know the questions, expected answers and they know the law.

You do not lose points if you cite A.87(4) instead of Art.87(4) or Article 87(4)

The exam committee has no official list of accepted abbreviations, but we make a list for our candidates which we put in our questions & answers books. I have also included a German list (see separate posts).

These may be used on the exam without definitining them. They are perfectly clear to European patent attorneys who work with the EPO and WIPO materials.

If you use something else that may be unclear (e.g. sjm for subject matter), then write it out fully the first time you use it in your answers.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Our FREE printable versions of the PCT Applicants Guide - available now for EQE2012

The Examination Board has a printable version available (here on the right-hand side of the page)

However, this document is 1700 pages with a lot of information that will never be asked on the EQE, such as details on African, Asian and South American states.
Also there are other things on the WIPO web-site which you should have with you that are not even included in the 1700 pages, such as the Reservations and Incompatibilities, and the agreement between the WIPO and the EPO.

As an alternative, I have captured and assembled 3 books. They are intended to be printed with 2 pages on each A4 sheet and double-sided. The specific information on states is restricted to EPC states, the largest patent offices, the 13 most popular rO's, and the 13 most popular dO's & eO's.


 – 72 pages
Comprising various overviews from the WIPO website such as Paris Convention states with accession dates, overview of all states that accept restoration of priority, Reservations & Incompatibilities and PCT fees of December 2011.
- 492 pages
Comprising the PCT “Guidelines” (Introduction to the international phase)
and the annexes for the selected states most likely to be needed on the EQE
Also comprising a useful guide to procedural safeguards,  the Request form with notes, the agreement between the WIPO and EPO, how to file at the IB and the EPO as SISA

- 160 pages
Comprising the Introduction to the national phase, national phase summaries for the selected states, and the national chapters for the states most likely to be on the exam. 
Also comprising a complete overview of all national entry time limits, EPC contracting and extension states (with access dates) and the EP entry form 1200 with notes.