Article 31

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE

Representation

CEIPI - European qualifying examination 2018 ("main examination")

For the European qualifying examination (EQE) 2018, CEIPI (Institute 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 high-quality training material.

This training programme consists of "introductory courses" in the early autumn of 2017 in Paris and Strasbourg, followed by "preparatory seminars" in November 2017 and January 2018, in Strasbourg.

For Papers A+B (drafting of claims and an introduction, and preparing a reply to an official letter), C (Opposition) and D (legal questions) the programme is completed with "intensive last-minute courses" in January 2018. For Papers A + B and C, these courses are offered in Munich (English- and German-speaking candidates) and Paris (French-speaking candidates), for Paper D the course will take place in Paris (only for French-speaking candidates).

The Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) has developed this programme over several 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.

Different from other courses preparing for the EQE, the tutors for these courses are a perfect mix of professional representatives (from private practice and industry), and staff of the departments of first instance of the EPO and of the Boards of Appeal. All have extensive knowledge and practical experience in the procedures before the EPO, be it in examination and opposition, or in appeal before the Boards of Appeal.

Enrolment for the complete CEIPI course offer for one or more papers of the EQE 2018 will allow candidates to benefit from "package" discounts. Further information is available on our website www.ceipi.edu.

I. Introductory ("pre-prep") courses in early autumn 2017 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.

The courses are for candidates intending to sit the EQE (main examination) in 2018. 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 the track" for preparing for the EQE (main examination) 2018 and bringing them to the required level for the CEIPI preparatory seminars to be held in November 2017 and January 2018 (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 2017 and January 2018.

The preprep courses for papers A+B deal with the new format of these two papers as from 2017.

To fully benefit from the preparatory seminars in November 2017 (Papers A+B and C) and in January 2018 (Paper D), candidates are therefore strongly advised to enrol for these preceding introductory ("pre-prep") courses to be held in the early autumn of 2017 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 2018.

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 Training in European Patent Law and preparation for the EQE-EQF/Preparation for the EQE.

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 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:

On request and subject to the availability of suitable tutors, complementary pre-prep courses can be organised in other cities.

Each pre-prep course may be taken separately.

The fee for each one-day course in Paris or Strasbourg is EUR 600. The fee for the one-and-a-half-day courses in Paris or Strasbourg, is EUR 900 each.

The price of the A+B-pre-prep courses includes the "A-Book".

The price of the C-pre-prep courses includes the "C-Book", last 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.

The closing date for receipt of all applications is 13 July 2017.

You can apply via: preparationEQE@ceipi.edu

II. CEIPI preparatory seminars for the European qualifying examination 2018 (main examination), for papers A+B and C in November 2017, for Paper D in January 2018, 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) 2018 (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 2017 (see above).

To fully benefit from these preparatory seminars in November 2017 (Papers A+B and C) and in January 2018 (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 2017 (Papers A and B) and EQE 2016 (Paper C) under exam conditions and exercises. The D seminar in January will incorporate a mock exam in the form of a D Paper.

Papers A, B and C

The seminar on Papers A (drafting of claims and an introduction), B (reply to an official letter) and C (drafting an opposition) will be held from 20 to 24 November 2017.

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 2017) and the communications of the Examination Board of 5 November 2012 and 18 July 2013).

The seminar will deal with the new format of papers A+B as from 2017.

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

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

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 topics discussed in the seminar by doing the 2017 A and B papers under mock examination conditions. For Paper C exercises are mixed with doing the examination Paper C-2016, 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 2018.

Paper D

The seminar on legal questions (Paper D) will be held from 8 to 12 January 2018 (Monday to Friday).

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 2018.

General

The seminars' 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 (English, French or German).

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 Training in European Patent Law and preparation for the EQE-EQF/Preparation for the EQE.

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 1 700 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 875 respectively.

The closing date for receipt of all applications is 15 September 2017.

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. "Intensive last-minute courses" for Papers A+B, C and  D of the European qualifying examination 2018 (main examination)

To complete the above programme, CEIPI offers for Papers A+B, C and D a last-minute opportunity to candidates wishing to improve their skills in respect of these papers. To that end, CEIPI organises "intensive last-minute courses", in which candidates put themselves under examination conditions and write a full Paper A+B, C or D 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 intensive course for Paper D is only offered in French.

The courses are open only for candidates who have enrolled for the EQE 2018 (main examination), respectively for Papers A+B, C or D 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) 2018, 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.

Intensive last-minute course for Papers A+B:

This course will take place:

• as a one-and-a-half-day course on Tuesday, 23 January and on Wednesday afternoon, 24 January 2018, in Munich for the English- and German-speaking candidates;
• as a one-and-a-half-day course on Tuesday, 23 January and Wednesday afternoon, 24 January 2018 in Paris for the French-speaking candidates.

The fee for the Munich and Paris courses is EUR 750.

Intensive last-minute course for paper C:

This course will take place:

• as a one-and-a-half-day course on Wednesday, 24 January and Thursday, 25 January 2018 in Munich, for the English- and German-speaking candidates,
• as a one-and-a-half-day course on Friday, 26 January and Saturday, 27 January 2018 in Paris, for the French-speaking candidates.

The fee for the Munich and Paris course is EUR 750, including a review of the candidate's paper.

More information on the course programme can be found on the CEIPI website: www.ceipi.edu under Training in European Patent Law and preparation for the EQE-EQF/Preparation for the EQE.

Intensive last-minute course for paper D:

This course will take place:

• as a one-and-a-half-day course on Wednesday, 24 January a.m. and Thursday, 25 January 2018 in Paris, for the French-speaking candidates.

The fee for the course is EUR 750.

More information on the course programme can be found on the CEIPI website: www.ceipi.edu under Training in European Patent Law and preparation for the EQE-EQF/Preparation for the EQE.

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 18 December 2017.

On request and subject to the availability of suitable tutors, complementary intensive “last-minute” courses can be organised in other cities.

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 "resitters"

Friday, 1 and Saturday, 2 December 2017, 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. The course is motivated by the realisation that many candidates are insufficiently prepared, lacking the knowledge and special skills that this paper demands.

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, respectively find solutions for the issues they have with this paper.

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 (English, French or German). 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-2017 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 ABC preparatory course in November 2017, because there is a considerable syllabus overlap.

The course starts at 9.00 hrs on Friday, 1 December 2017, and ends at 18.00 hrs on Saturday, 2 December 2017.

More information on the course programme can be found on the CEIPI website: www.ceipi.edu under Training in European Patent Law and preparation for the EQE-EQF/Preparation for the EQE.

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 receipt of all applications is 2 October 2017.

The course fee is EUR 850. The price includes the "C-Book", last 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