Pages 233-240

REPRESENTATION

CEIPI/epi

European qualifying examination 2009

For the European qualifying examination 2009 CEIPI offers a programme of exam preparation courses consisting of "Introductory Courses" in the early autumn of 2008, in a number of different cities in Europe, followed by the "Preparatory Seminars" in November 2008 and January 2009, in Strasbourg, France.

For Paper C (Opposition) this programme is completed with a "Cramming Course" in February 2009, in Strasbourg and Paris.

The Centre for International Industrial Property Studies (CEIPI) has developed this programme over the past years and considers itself successful in providing candidates with a set of courses adapted to the EQE, increasing their chances of success. Statistics based on feedback from French-speaking candidates - for whom this programme has been in place now for a number of years - show that their chances of success after following this programme are in the order of 70-80%, considerably higher than the average success rate for the EQE.

I. Introductory ("Pre-prep") courses in early autumn 2008 on Papers AB (Claim drafting and responding to the Office communication) and C (Opposition) and D (Legal Questions):

Please note that early enrolment is advisable.

These Introductory ("Pre-preparatory") Courses are intended principally – but not exclusively – for candidates who have taken CEIPI's basic European patent law training course.

They aim to set the candidates for the European qualifying examination (EQE) as early as possible "on the rails" for preparing themselves for the EQE 2009 as well as for reaching the required level for the CEIPI Preparatory Seminars in November 2008 and January 2009 (see below).

In these courses an introduction is given into the methodologies one can apply to the papers A, B, C and D respectively, the examination requirements as well as a review of important topics the candidates can expect for each paper. The courses offer candidates suggestions to help them prepare for the exams as well as for the CEIPI Preparatory Seminars in November 2008 and January 2009.

To fully benefit from the Preparatory Seminars in November 2008 (Papers AB and C) and in January 2009 (Paper D), candidates are advised to enrol for these preceding Introductory ("Pre-prep") Courses to be held in the early autumn of 2008 as well; it helps them to acquaint themselves at an earlier stage with the methodologies taught and the material to be studied, which gives them more time to practise before the European qualifying examination in 2009.

Depending on the available capacity the participants will be chosen on a first come, first served basis.

The courses will be held as a one-day course (AB and C) or a one-and-a-half-day course (D) in Strasbourg (for English and German-speaking candidates) and Paris (for the French-speaking candidates).

The regional one-and-a-half day courses (AB, C and D) in Milan (IT), Barcelona/Madrid (ES) and Göteborg (SE) will be held only in English, and start on Friday afternoon and continue for the entire following Saturday.

The dates are:

Each course may be taken separately.

The fee for each half day in Paris or Strasbourg is EUR 200. The fee for the one-and-a-half-day courses in Barcelona/Madrid, Milan and Göteborg is EUR 600 each.

Day courses run generally from 8.30/9.00 to 17.00/18.00 hrs.

Applications to CEIPI will be treated on a first come, first served basis. If the courses are oversubscribed, names will be put on a waiting list.

The closing date for receipt of all applications is 30 June 2008.

You can apply via:

for Paris: preprepParis@ceipi.edu

for Strasbourg: preprepStrasbg@ceipi.edu

for Barcelona/Madrid, Milan, Göteborg: preprepReg@ceipi.edu

II. CEIPI Preparatory Seminars for the European qualifying examination 2009, for papers AB and C in November 2008, for Paper D in January 2009, Strasbourg

Please note that early enrolment is advisable.

The Centre for International Industrial Property Studies (CEIPI) is holding two seminars in Strasbourg to help candidates prepare for the European qualifying examination (EQE) 2009.

Participants are expected to have reached an advanced stage in their own preparations for the examination. To this end, Introductory ("Pre-prep") Courses for Papers AB, C and D will be held in Strasbourg, Paris, Milan, Barcelona/Madrid and Göteborg in the early autumn of 2008 (see above).

To fully benefit from the Preparatory Seminars in November 2008 (Papers AB and C) and in January 2009 (Paper D), candidates are advised to enrol for these Introductory ("Pre-prep") Courses; it helps them to acquaint themselves at an earlier stage with the methodologies taught and sets them on the rails for preparing themselves better.

The working texts for the seminar are largely based on past EQE papers. The AB and C seminar in November will incorporate mock exams in the form of papers from the EQE, e.g. 2007 and exercises under exam conditions. The D seminar in January will incorporate a mock exam in the form of the D II Paper from the EQE 2008.

Papers A, B and C

The seminar on Papers A (claim drafting), B (claim amendment and response to the Office communication) and C (opposition) will be held from 24 to 28 November 2008.

The seminar will cover the following topics: drafting claims and drafting an introduction to the description in Paper A; replying to an Office communication and preparing an amended set of claims in Paper B; and drafting both a notice of opposition and a response to the client's questions in Paper C.

The AB or C part may be booked separately.

The courses will be held in each official language of the EPO (English, French and German).

In this seminar the AB part will have groups for chemical and non-chemical subject-matter.

The methodologies discussed in the Introductory Courses ("Pre-prep" courses, see above) will be reviewed and deepened, using a past paper, under the guidance of a tutor. Important topics like the problem/solution approach, partial problems, priority, inadmissible amendments and prior use will also be discussed further.

Participants will have the opportunity to apply the strategies and methodologies discussed by doing the 2007 A and B papers under mock examination conditions. For Paper C the intention is to mix examination parts with exercises, both under mock exam conditions. Various approaches and suggested solutions will then be presented and discussed in the light of the examiners' reports and the "CEIPI solution".

The AB and C seminars are for those intending to sit the examination in 2009.

Paper D

The seminar on legal questions (paper D) will be held twice in 2009, from 12 to 16 January (Monday to Friday) and from 27 to 31 January 2009 (Tuesday to Saturday).

Applicants may indicate a preferred week, but course allocation will be at CEIPI's discretion.

The seminar aims to enable candidates to answer the legal questions substantively and within the time allowed. It serves as a final test for the EQE. The method involves independent work under the tutors' supervision, plus discussion of the answers. Candidates learn and practise the different approaches needed to tackle the questions of Part D I as well as the more extensive question of part D II, and practise these techniques.

The Paper D seminars are for those intending to sit the examination in 2009.

General

The seminar's European character is reflected in the international mix of tutors (qualified European patent attorneys as well as agents of the EPO) and participants. Group-based work ensures discussion between the two. Participants are required to know one of the EPO's official languages (English, French or German).

Participant numbers are limited, to ensure proper discussion between tutors and the group.

Enrolment conditions:

Applications to CEIPI will be treated on a first come, first served basis. If the courses are oversubscribed, names will be put on a waiting list. Those enrolling for the first time will be given precedence over those wishing to repeat the courses.

The fee is EUR 900 for the five-day courses (ABC or D); for the AB part on its own the fee is EUR 650, for the C Part on its own EUR 500.

The closing date for receipt of all applications is 1 October  2008.

You can apply via:

seminarEQE@ceipi.edu

III. CEIPI "Cramming Course" for Paper C of the European qualifying examination 2009

To complete the above programme, CEIPI offers for Paper C (Opposition), a last-minute opportunity to candidates wishing to improve their skills in respect of this paper. To that end, CEIPI organises a so-called "Cramming Course", in which candidates put themselves under examination conditions and write a full Paper C within the same time as available in the examination.

This concept has been developed over the past years for the French-speaking candidates and has met with considerable appreciation of the candidates. CEIPI considers it worth the effort to find out whether the concept also works on a larger scale, for the candidates of the other official language sections.

The course is open only for candidates who have enrolled for the EQE 2009 for Paper C and have followed either a preceding Introductory ("Pre-Prep") Course Paper C, or a recent preceding "Preparatory Seminar" Paper C, or both.

It is of no use to come to this course insufficiently prepared, one is either holding up the other candidates or the pace will be too fast.

Please note that early enrolment is advisable.

The aim of the course is to give the candidates the possibility, close to but also sufficiently in advance of the actual examination in March 2009, to exercise their skills in sitting this paper under examination conditions. With the feedback of a tutor, following afterwards, on the paper(s) in question and on the work delivered by the candidates, as well as the possibility of putting "last-minute" questions to the tutor, candidates will have an even better idea of whether certain issues need closer study and/or which skills should be further trained.

Depending on the available capacity the participants will be chosen on a first come, first served basis.

This "Cramming Course" will take place:

• as a one-and-a-half-day course on Thursday, 5 February and Friday, 6 February 2009 in Strasbourg, for the English- and German-speaking candidates,
• as a one-day course on Saturday, 7 February 2009 in Paris, for the French-speaking candidates.

The fee for the Strasbourg course is EUR 600, for the Paris course EUR 400.

Programme:

Strasbourg (English- and German-speaking candidates):

Thursday, 5 February 2009

10.00 - 16.00 hrs mock exam, paper C-2008 plus handing in the papers to the CEIPI Secretariat

Friday, 6 February 2009, 9.00 - 13.00 hrs Discussion of the papers handed in, the CEIPI Model solution and "Question and Answer session"

Paris (French-speaking candidates):

Saturday, 7 February 2009

9.00-12.00 hrs mock exam C - 1996, Writing the notice of opposition based on predetermined attacks

13.30 - 16.30 hrs mock exam C - 1998, Determination of the attacks

17.00 - 19.00 hrs Papers 1996 and 1998: Group discussion of the results

Applications to CEIPI will be treated on a first come, first served basis. If the courses are oversubscribed, names will be put on a waiting list.

The closing date for receipt of all applications is 5 January 2009.

You can apply via:

for Strasbourg: cramming@ceipi.edu

for Paris: bachotage@ceipi.edu

More information on all these courses can be found on the CEIPI website: http://www.ceipi.edu or obtained from:

Rosemarie Blott

CEIPI Section Internationale

Université Robert Schuman

Boîte Postale 68

67046 Strasbourg cedex

France

Tel. +33 (0)388 14 45 92

Fax: +33 (0)388 14 45 94

rosemarie.blott@ceipi.edu