For qualified attorneys - continous education

It is hard to find time to keep up with the changes in the law, and recent case law. We read everything and pick out the important things so you don't have to ;-)

We are organising a Patent Law update in Utrecht, NL on 8 March 2010.
Utrecht is about 20 minutes in the train from Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

Mock pre-exam - questions & answers

The Examination Board has published the questions and answers from the mock Pre-Exam, held last week.
As they indicate, this may not necessarily reflect the final format.

It comprises some legal questions based on the DI 2007, and some claim interpretation based on A 2004.
So, for anybody preparing for EQE2010, you may want to do it as an extra check during your preparation.
The questions of DI 2007 (and answers) have been updated with more recent dates.
The questions are here in German / English / French. An answer sheet is provided on the last page
The answers are here

Potential exam questions EQE 2010 - from OJEPO and PCT NL

I get asked many times what I think will be on the D exam. Most of the questions and issues will be based upon the core of the EPC, which changes little.
However, they also like to ask questions based on things that have been published and changed “recently”.

Tips for the EQE

A great list and discussion of tips from last year can be found here

To see my recommendations of which material to take to the exam, see here

Pre-exam EQE 2012 - update

I have heard from some candidates preparing for EQE 2010 who have been invited to help try out a mock version of the pre-exam in Munich and London. This seems like a very smart way to test both the format and level of the pre-exam using guinea-pigs of about the right level.
Although we still have to wait until March to hear definitely what will be tested and how, we know that the mock pre-exam has:

Individual correction of C2009 and DII 2009 papers

As part of our training program, we correct papers that people send us. We give individual feedback about style and any legal errors, together with a detailed marking sheet (more detailed than the standard EQE marking sheets) and our comprehensive model solution.
We have received several requests for the correction of 2009 papers, so we have added the C2009 and DII 2009 papers.

Other PCT things to print out and take

If there is still room in your suitcase, I would also recommend the following for PCT:

Printable PCT Applicants Guide now available for EQE 2010

Thanks to Cees Mulder (known to EQE candidates as the author of the Cross-referenced PCT) for letting me know about the latest version printable PCT Applicants Guide.
The EQE Examination Board arranges each year that the WIPO produces a printable version of the PCT Applicants Guide to take to the exam. These are large files (1600 pages). No electronic equipment is allowed at the EQE, so you have no choice - you have to print out what you want to take.

Updated info about the EQE 2010

The EQE Board appears to be updating all the old notices regarding the exam. Usually the secretariat send this in an e-mail, but just in case you don't get it, you can find the updated instructions regarding the conduct of the EQE here

Differences I have noticed with the previous version (from Dec 2008 - see here):

Art.54(2) - When is something publicly available?

One of the problems learning the EPC is the large amount of detail presented in case law. For certain subjects, it helps to understand the general principles before you look at the details.

One such area is Art.54(2) - when is something made available to the public ?
For those doing the EQE, this is important for the C & D exams.