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.

Corrections for EQE2012 DeltaPatents books now available

The EQE2012 versions of the Basic Questiions for Paper D and Exam-related Questions for Paper D have some errors. A list of updates is found here:


http://www.deltapatents.com/data/uploads/downloads/basic-questions-EQE2012-errata.pdf
http://www.deltapatents.com/data/uploads/downloads/exam-questions-EQE2012-errata.pdf

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.

http://www.deltapatents.com/data/uploads/downloads/PCT_Ref_EQE2012_Part_I_General.pdf 

 – 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.

http://www.deltapatents.com/data/uploads/downloads/PCT_Ref_EQE2012_Part_II_International.pdf 

- 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

http://www.deltapatents.com/data/uploads/downloads/PCT_Ref_EQE2012_Part_III_National.pdf

- 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.

Improved EPO Guidelines index available

The Academy has now made an improved index available for the Guidelines (for the version of April 2010)

Importantly, the references are now to paragraphs instead of page numbers, so it will work with all language editions, not just the English ones.

So print it out and take it to the exam - many aspects of EQE answers are in the Guidelines.

Smaller printable version of PCT applicants Guide - coming soon !

As always, the Examination Board has made a printable version of the Applicants Guide available (see below)

However, these files are very large (1700 pages) because they comprise information for every PCT state world-wide.

In the past, the D Examination Committee has confirmed that candidates do not require all these details, but it is quite difficult for candidates to decide themselves what are the most important parts to take.

Therefore, I make every year a cut-down version of only 500 pages, with overviews from the WIPO web site that are also useful on the exam.

I will make one for EQE2012, but it is not ready yet - it should be available within the next two weeks.

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From PCT Newsletter of January 2012:

Materials for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE)

In order to assist candidates in the preparation of materials for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) for prospective European patent attorneys, the IB, with the agreement of the Examination Board for the EQE, has made available on the website four PDF files for the PCT Applicant's Guide, the International Phase and the National Phase as of 31 December 2011:

     http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/eqe_collection_ip.pdf  

     http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/eqe_collection_np.pdf  

For printing purposes, please be warned that these PDF files are large – the complete collection in either language requires nearly 900 sheets of paper when printed recto verso – and may be difficult to download over a slow Internet connection. To avoid printing difficulties select “Fit to Printable Area” in the “Page Scaling” options when printing.

Latest REE available

EPO has now made the latest version of the EQE exam regulation (REE) here.

The only real change seems to be the inclusion of the latest Instructions to candidates concerning the conduct of the examination.

Read this document before going to the exam so that you know what is allowed and what is not. In particular, you will only be allowed to use a watch with an analog display if you want to take your own clock.

For the pre-exam, you especially need a black medium soft HB pencil, eraser and sharpener

Update of Instructions To Candidates

The Examination Board has updated the Instructions to candidates concerning the conduct of the
European qualifying examination to include the details for the Pre-Exam :
http://archive.epo.org/epo/pubs/oj011/11_11/11_5851.pdf

Important are the instructions relating to the pencil for the pre-exam.

Also important to realise that you are only allowed to bring a wrist-watch with an analog display to the exam. All other clocks are not allowed.