Get ready for EPAC-2024!

With European Patent Administration Certificate (EPAC) examination around the corner, here are key takeaways from my experience of successfully qualifying the exam in 2023.

A week before the examination:

1.????? While it is important to read the Articles and Rules of European patent law (EPO) and Patent co-operation treaty (PCT), now is the time to focus on questions. Solve the EPAC mock papers and examination papers from year 2022 and 2023. Available in the archive section here . Read the possible solutions and explanation provided by examiners in examiner report. This will give you a sound idea of what is the expectation and marking system; especially in Paper 2.

2.????? European qualifying examination (EQE) - The questions in EPAC are equivalent to preliminary examination paper and Paper D of EQE. Solve the compendium of pre-examination papers (Available here ) and Paper D (Available here ). Solving these papers of last 5 years will help you understand the law more clearly and help you in achieving thorough level of knowledge giving you an edge.

3.????? I suggest solving the mock papers and archived papers of EPAC and EQE for at least 2-3 times as a part of your revision.

4.????? Studying thoroughly the Patent cooperation treaty and important articles in it. While the examination is European examination, PCT system plays an important role in this. You may expect multiple questions of PCT system. Understand the role of International Bureau, receiving office, designated office and transfer of applications from one office to another.

5.????? Study thoroughly the EP direct application, Euro-PCT application and the criteria for European search report (ESR), International search report (ISR) and Written opinion (WO) and Extended European search report (EESR) and International preliminary examination report (IPER) for these applications.

6.????? Representation – Note down the scenarios where representation, authorized signatures and power of attorney is required. This makes a very important aspect while dealing with clients and a European paralegal is expected to know this.

7.????? Language – Language of filing of application, publication and language of proceedings and possibility to change the language is critical. Pay attention to timelines for filing the translation of EP application at EPO as well as for international application at Receiving office (RO).

8.????? Understand the meaning of Natural person, small entity, micro entity and criteria for qualification of such status – the revenue, number of employee and annual balance sheet.

On the day of examination:

1.????? Make yourself comfortable in place. Keep your water bottle and all the necessary material handy.

a.????? List of forms – PCT as well as EPO

b.????? List of timelines - Extendable and non-extendable timelines

c.????? List of fees - Refund of fees and % of refund basis scenario e.g. Appeal fees can be refunded from 25% to 100% basis the stage of appeal

d.????? The calendar of 2023, 2024 and 2025 must be with you along with EPO closing days and holiday list for national patent offices and Unified patent court

2.????? Ensure the calculation of dates correctly. Be mindful of the month (28/29 days for February as 2024 is a leap year, 30 days and 31 days).

3.????? Be mindful of time and ensure to submit the paper within time. If you don’t upload the first paper, you will not be allowed to sit for second paper.

4.????? Stable internet connection – Please make sure that you have a stable internet connection. I suggest you keep a backup internet connection (e.g. a dongle) ready in case you lose LAN connection. Also, ensure that option of ‘connect automatically’ is enabled in your device.

5.????? In case you are not able to submit paper within time due to valid reason e.g. loss of internet connection (happened to me as I lost internet connection during Paper I and caused me a lot of stress), ensure to save your paper in the form of WISEFlow version. In genuine cases, Patent office will share a separate password in your mail for you to submit the paper or you can share the WISEFlow saved version for them to upload it before the start of second examination. The Patent Office support staff goes out of the way to help you and ensure that your paper is submitted.

6.????? Be focused throughout the examination and try to give best possible answer. All in all, it is important to keep your calm and face the examination.

Good luck to all the candidates who are appearing for the examination in 2024!

If you find this post helpful, please feel free to share among your LinkedIn connections. Have any additional tips or questions? Share in the comment section.

#EPAC #EPO #Patent #Patentadministrator #UPC #Patentlaw #Intellectualproperty