REPRESENTATION
Training at the EPO for Patent Attorneys
The EPO offers the opportunity for patent attorneys who have not yet passed the European Qualifying Examination to receive training within the EPO in Munich. The term "attorney" is intended to include persons active in the free profession as well as in industry. This training started at the beginning of 1991, and although it is mainly aimed at candidates for the European Qualifying Examination, it is also open to professional representatives who have been entered on the list under Article 163 EPC. A particular target group are people whose mother tongue is not an EPO official language or who come from under-represented Contracting States, and these applicants are given preference in the application procedure.
The Programme
The trainees spend a period of 4 weeks with DG 2. If desired, a period of up to 4 weeks with DG 3 may also be provided for. The length of the interval between these two periods is flexible. In DG 2 the trainees work alongside trainee examiners on actual cases and are supervised by a training officer. They can participate in examiners' courses that take place during their stay. In DG 3 the trainees are assigned to a Technical Board of Appeal. During both periods the trainees are able to attend oral proceedings. Special seminars acquaint the trainee with other activities of the EPO in its Munich office.
Costs and Accommodation
The EPO does not charge the trainees. The trainees have to finance their stay in Munich themselves. The EPO supplies information on affordable accommodation and local banks who can offer loans, if so desired. The final arrangements have to be made by the trainees personally.
Admission
The programme is open to nationals of all EPC Contracting States having their residence within the territory of one of the Contracting States. In exceptional cases exemptions can be granted from the nationality criterion.
A basic knowledge of the European patent grant procedure is required, a condition for admission being that the trainee has successfully completed the EPI/CEIPI Basic Training Course in European Patent Law1 or an equivalent course.
The trainees must have a good knowledge of at least one of the official languages, and a basic knowledge of the other two.
Applications from persons wishing to participate in the second six months of 1992 should reach the EPO by 30 April 1992. An application form can be found on page 142.
It is essential that you give your preferred technical field according to the International Patent Classification to enable us to place you in an appropriate directorate.
At present up to 30 candidates a year can be accepted for training. In 1991, 18 trainees took part in the scheme (4 BE, 3 FR, IT and NL, 2 CH and 1 AT, ES and GB). They all spent time in DG 2, 7 of them also in DG 3. More will be doing their DG 3 training in 1992.
Further information can be obtained from Ms Margaret Garvey, Directorate 5.1.1 (Representation and Register of Patents), Tel. (089) 2399-5115.
The embedded forms within this article are for technical reasons only available in the PDF version of this article.
1 See OJ EPO 1992, 94.