Article 39

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

Representation

CEIPI - European qualifying examination 2016 ("main examination")

For the European qualifying examination (EQE) 2016 (main examination), CEIPI (Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies) offers, as part of the Euro-CEIPI collaboration with the European Patent Academy, a complete range of high-quality exam preparation courses using proprietary high-quality training material. This training programme consists of "introductory courses" in the early autumn of 2015 in Paris and Strasbourg, followed by "preparatory seminars" in November 2015 and January 2016, in Strasbourg.

For Papers A+B (drafting of claims and an introduction, and preparing a reply to an official letter) and C (Opposition) the programme is completed with a "cramming course" in January 2016, in Munich and Paris.

CEIPI has developed this programme over recent years and believes it has been 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 pass rate for the EQE.

The tutors for these courses are a mix of professional representatives (from private practice and industry), and staff of the EPO. All have extensive knowledge and practical experience in the procedures before the EPO and the Boards of Appeal.

I. Introductory ("pre-prep") courses in early autumn 2015 on Papers A+B (claim drafting and reply to the official letter), 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.

The courses are for candidates intending to sit the EQE (main examination) in 2016. They are not intended for candidates sitting the pre-examination (see the separate CEIPI announcement in this Official Journal).

They aim to set the candidates as early as possible "on track" for preparing for the EQE (main examination) 2016 and bringing them to the required level for the CEIPI preparatory seminars to be held in November 2015 and January 2016 (see below).

In these pre-prep courses an introduction is given to the methodologies for solving Papers A, B, C and D respectively. Moreover, the examination requirements are explained and a review of important topics for each paper is given. The courses offer candidates suggestions to help them when they prepare themselves for the exams as well as for the CEIPI preparatory seminars in November 2015 and January 2016.

In the pre-prep courses the A+B part is held in separate groups for Chemistry and Electricity/Mechanics.

It is our experience that a not insignificant number of candidates come insufficiently prepared to the preparatory seminars in November and January, after which there is insufficient time to learn and practise all the material taught.

To fully benefit from the preparatory seminars in November 2015 (Papers A+B and C) and in January 2016 (Paper D), candidates are therefore strongly advised to enrol for these preceding introductory ("pre-prep") courses to be held in the early autumn of 2015 as well; it helps them to acquaint themselves at an early stage with the intricacies of the papers, the methodologies taught and the material to be studied, which gives them more time to practise before the preparatory seminar and the European qualifying examination in 2016.

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

More information on the course programme can be found on the CEIPI website: www.ceipi.edu under "International section – Preparation for the EQE/Seminars/Preprep courses".

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

The one-day courses generally run from 8.30/9.00 to 17.00/18.00 hrs.

The dates are:

Each course needs a minimum of 12 participants to take place.

Each pre-prep course may be taken separately.

The fee for each one-day course in Paris or Strasbourg is EUR 500. The fee for the one-and-a-half-day courses in Paris or Strasbourg is EUR 750 each.

The price of the C-pre-prep courses includes the "C-Book", 4th edition.

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.

At least 12 candidates should enrol for a course to take place.

The closing date for enrolment is 15 July 2015.

You can apply via:
preparationEQE@ceipi.edu

II. CEIPI preparatory seminars for the European qualifying examination 2016 (main examination), for Papers A+B and C in November 2015, for Paper D in January 2016, Strasbourg

Please note that early enrolment is advisable.

The Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) is holding two seminars in Strasbourg to help candidates prepare for the European qualifying examination (EQE) 2016 (main examination).

Participants are expected to have reached an advanced stage in their own preparations for the examination. To achieve this level, introductory ("pre-prep") courses for Papers A+B, C and D will be held in Strasbourg and Paris in the early autumn of 2015 (see above).

To fully benefit from these preparatory seminars in November 2015 (Papers A+B and C) and in January 2016 (Paper D), candidates are advised to enrol for the earlier mentioned introductory ("pre-prep") courses; it helps them to acquaint themselves at an earlier stage with the methodologies taught and sets them on track for preparing themselves better.

The working texts for the seminar are largely based on past EQE papers. The A+B and C seminar in November will incorporate mock exams in the form of papers from the EQE 2015 (Papers A and B) and 2014 (Paper C) under exam conditions and exercises. The D seminar in January will incorporate a mock exam in the form of a D II Paper.

Papers A, B and C

The seminar on Papers A (drafting of claims and an introduction), B (preparing a reply to an official letter) and C (drafting an opposition) will be held from 16 to 20 November 2015.

The seminar will cover the following topics: drafting claims and drafting an introduction to the description in Paper A; drafting an appropriately amended set of claims and a letter to the EPO in Paper B; and drafting both a notice of opposition and a response to any client's question in Paper C (see Rules 23-25 of the IPRE (supplementary publication 2, OJ EPO 2014) and the communications of the Examination Board of 5 November 2012 and 18 July 2013).

The A+B or C part may be booked separately.

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

In this seminar the A+B part is held in separate groups for Chemistry and Electricity/Mechanics.

The methodologies discussed in the introductory courses ("pre-prep" courses, see above) are refreshed and further developed using past papers, updated if necessary, under the guidance of a tutor. Essential topics such as the problem/solution approach, partial problems, priority, inadmissible amendments and prior public use will also be discussed further.

Participants will have the opportunity to apply the strategies and methodologies discussed in the seminar by doing the 2015 A and B papers under mock examination conditions. For Paper C exercises are mixed with doing the examination Paper C-2014, the latter under mock exam conditions. Various approaches and suggested solutions will then be presented and discussed in the light of the examiners' reports and model solutions of CEIPI (i.e. the "CEIPI solution").

The A+B and C seminars are for those intending to sit the EQE (main examination) in 2016.

Paper D

The seminar on legal questions (Paper D) will be held from 4 to 8 January 2016 (Monday to Friday). In case of a large number of enrolments, it is possible that an additional, second seminar will take place, from 18 to 22 January 2016 (Monday to Friday). For this possibility candidates may indicate a preference: A = first week, B = second week, C = indifferent. The decision whether or not the second seminar will take place, as well as the distribution of candidates in such case, will be made in early November 2015.

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

The seminar aims at enabling candidates to answer the legal questions substantively and within the available time. 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 EQE (main examination) in 2016.

General

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

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

More information on the programme of the seminars can be found on the CEIPI website: www.ceipi.edu under

"International section - Preparation for the EQE/Seminars".

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 1 600 for the five-day courses (A+B/C or D); for the A+B part and for the C part on their own the fee is EUR 825 respectively.

The closing date for enrolment is 25 September 2015.

You can apply via: seminarEQE@ceipi.edu

More information on both these courses can also be obtained from:

Christiane Melz
CEIPI Section Internationale
Université de Strasbourg
Boîte Postale 68
67046 Strasbourg cedex
France
Tel. +33 (0)368 858313
Fax: +33 (0)368 858566
christiane.melz@ceipi.edu

III. CEIPI "cramming course" for Papers A+B and C of the European qualifying examination 2016 (main examination)

To complete the above programme, CEIPI offers for Papers A+B and C a last-minute opportunity to candidates wishing to improve their skills in respect of these papers. To that end, CEIPI organises "cramming courses" in which candidates put themselves under examination conditions and write a full Paper A+B or C within the same time as available in the examination. The papers will receive a quick check by the tutors and will be handed back to the candidates with the result.

The courses are open only for candidates who have enrolled for the EQE 2016 (main examination) respectively for Papers A+B or C and have followed either a preceding introductory ("pre-prep") course, or a recent preceding "Preparatory Seminar" for these papers, or both.

There is no point coming to this course insufficiently prepared, as this will either hold 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 European qualifying examination (main examination) 2016, to exercise their skills in sitting these papers under examination conditions. With subsequent feedback from a tutor 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.

Cramming course for papers A+B:

This cramming course will take place

• as a one-and-a-half-day course on Tuesday, 26 and Wednesday, 27 January 2016, in Munich for the English- and German-speaking candidates;
• as a one-day course on Saturday, 30 January 2016 in Paris for the French-speaking candidates.

The fee for the Munich course is EUR 650, for the Paris course EUR 500.

Cramming course for Paper C:

This "cramming course" will take place:

• as a one-and-a-half-day course on Thursday, 28 and Friday, 29 January 2016 in Munich, for the English- and German-speaking candidates
• as a one-day course on Wednesday, 27 January 2016 in Paris, for the French-speaking candidates.

The fee for the Munich course is EUR 650, for the Paris course EUR 500.

More information on the course programme can be found on the CEIPI website: www.ceipi.edu under "International section - Preparation for the EQE/Seminars/Cramming Course".

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 enrolment is 4 January 2016.

You can apply via:
preparationEQE@ceipi.edu

For further information you can also contact:

Sylvie Kra
CEIPI Section Internationale
Université de Strasbourg
Boîte Postale 68
67046 Strasbourg cedex
France
Tel. +33 (0)368 858019
Fax +33 (0)368 858566
sylvie.kra@ceipi.edu

Special course on Paper C (opposition) for "multiple resitters"

Friday, 27 November and Saturday, 28 November 2015, Strasbourg

Please note that early enrolment is advisable.

This course is intended in principle only for candidates who have failed Part C (opposition) of the European qualifying examination more than once. The course is motivated by the realisation that many candidates are insufficiently prepared, lacking the knowledge and special skills that this paper demands. Candidates having failed this paper only once will be put on a waiting list, in case places are still available.

The course aims are to make candidates aware of the preparation, knowledge and skills they really need in order to pass the paper, and to help them attain the required level.

The course will examine the principles behind the paper and the legal, technical and practical problems it has posed in the past. It will also introduce candidates to useful examination techniques.

Work will be done in small groups, to ensure proper dialogue between tutor and participant. Participants must have a good command of an EPO official language (German, English or French). If fewer than ten people enrol for one of these languages, the course is likely to be held in English.

To optimise programme organisation it would be helpful if participants when enrolling could include a copy of at least one Paper C that they have failed, preferably the C-2015 paper. This will make it possible to define general problem areas and offer suitable solutions. Protection of personal data is guaranteed. The papers handed in will receive a quick check by the tutors, who will then provide personal feedback.

Course participants should not also apply for Part C of the A+B and C preparatory course in November 2015, because there is a considerable syllabus overlap.

The course starts at 9.00 hrs on Friday, 27 November 2015, and ends at 18.00 hrs on Saturday, 28 November 2015.

More information on the course programme can be found on the CEIPI website: www.ceipi.edu under "International section - Preparation for the EQE/Special C Course".

Conditions for enrolment:

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

The closing date for enrolment is 2 October 2015.

The course fee is EUR 850. The price includes the "C-Book", 4th edition, and lunch on both days.

You can apply via:
preparationEQE@ceipi.edu

For further information you can also contact:

Sylvie Kra
CEIPI Section Internationale
Université de Strasbourg
Boîte Postale 68
67046 Strasbourg cedex
France
Tel. +33 (0)368 858019
Fax +33 (0)368 858566
sylvie.kra@ceipi.edu