PCT Newsletter Summary 2009 complete

The PCT Newsletter Summary 2009 has been updated and now contains all practical advices as published (and some additional information). From 2010 I'll move to the Google Docs platform, saving myself some time in editing, converting to PDF, uploading etc...

In addition (I just keep on trying...) the latter platform allows for (realtime) collaboration. So, if you want to contribute, please send me an e-mail.

Download it here.

Paper A tool E/M

One of the visitors of this Blog has modified/updated the Paper A tool (which is focussed on the Chemistry paper) in view of the E/M paper.

Download it here under 3rd Party Tools.


Update: In the EQE Wiki, which you can find on the eqe-online forum there is another article on how to tackle paper A E/M. Click here

PCT Newsletter - December 2009 (No. 12/2009)

The latest issue of the PCT Newsletter (No. 12/2009) is now available on the PCT Resources page:

http://www.wipo.int/edocs/pctndocs/en/2009/pct_news_2009_12.pdf

This is the last PCT newsletter of 2009. I'll update the PCT summary also including the PCT newsletters published beginning of this year (if this appears necessary).

Work in progress ...

Although the number of posts have dropped over the last months, I've picked up some activities that require quite some time before the result can be published. The following can be expected, hopefully at the beginning of next year:

- Clean and editable version of the Implementing Regulations
- Tool for B (focussed on chemistry)
- An approach for dealing with inventive step in the EQE (though this may also be useful afterwards :-))

In addition, the A Tool that is currently available is re-worked by a reader of this Blog to also cover the electro/ mechanic exams. Hopefully it will be available soon.

As a reminder I'd like to invite you to provide some feedback on what is currently available. I'll be happy to modify/improve ...

Happy studying !

Missing parts under the PCT and the EPC

Under the EPC applicants have the possibility to file missing parts while keeping the same filing date provided the missing parts are completely contained in the priority application.

A similar possibility exists under the PCT, however there is a slight difference, in the sense that under the PCT the missing parts must be completely contained in the priority application(s) from which priority is claimed upon filing. The EPC provisions do not appear to have this requirement.

As a result an applicant may be allowed (after having filed his application) to first add an additional priority claim and then file "missing parts" of the application based on this later added priority claim.

During a seminar of the EPI on the PCT earlier today,  this difference was brought under the attention to a speaker from the EPO. Although he more or less agreed with the person making this comment that adding "missing part" in this way probably contravenes Article 123(2) he admitted that it is not forbidden under the EPC per se.

This appears to be one of the loopholes in the law which one day will be solved either by case law or revision of the law.

More snippets from this seminar to come....

Clean editable version of the EPC

Today I added a clean and editable version of the EPC articles to the downloads section. A similar version for the rules will follow someday. I started copying the official text from the EPO website already some time ago, yet never did anything with it so far. The text you find was made using the Google docs platform and is (as far as I've checked) free of any annotations or errors. You can download it in several forms and use it for further editing. Most probably this tool is a bit late for EQE 2010 sitters, yet for those considering doing "D" in 2011 this may be of use.

Anyway, the link below should give you "read-only" access to the Google docs document. Please let me know if the link does not work properly and/or if there are still some errors in this document (which is unlikely by the way...)

As mentioned before a similar document with the Rules will follow someday, probably beginning 2010. Again, if you like to help, let me know, see also here.


Click here for the document

PCT Newsletter - November 2009 available

The latest issue of the PCT Newsletter (No. 11/2009) is now available on

the PCT Resources page in:

PDF at:
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/pctndocs/en/2009/pct_news_2009_11.pdf

The practical advice this month is mainly related to electronic filing, to my opinion not so relevant for the EQE. One thing to remember both for the EPC and PCT is that a fee reduction applies when applicants file electronically. Thus, e-filing is in the interest of your D2 client, hence mentioning this may be worth a mark (you never know...).

For what it's worth, I will update the PCT summary.

Low activity

Due to other priorities I won't be very active on this Blog for the next few weeks.

EPC Flashcards

One of the Blog readers sent me "EPC Flashcards" earlier today. Not knowing exactly how to use it the following explanation was given:

"EPC flashcards may be used for studying/memorising the EPC. Here is how it works:

You print out the cards (front and back, the topic on the front should line up with the corresponding topic on the back) then cut them out.

They cards are convenient for studying because you can either do it yourself (you look at the front or back, then try to say what is on the other side) or else with someone else. They hold the card, read you the first part, then you have to say the other part and they check whether or not it is correct.

For example, they pick a card "Article 54" then you have to say what is on the other side "Novelty" then they say correct or incorrect. Then you can put the ones you got correct in one pile, and the ones incorrect in another pile, then go though the incorrect ones again until you get more and more correct.

They are useful because you can take them anywhere, such as when you are waiting for the bus, or at the doctor's office, etc., you just take them out and flip through them."



Download the EPC Flashcards here.

News from the EQE-online forum

The European Patent Academy plans to publish a set of commented answers to the EQE 2009 on the EQE-online forum. With the following announcement, they plan to get some 2009 candidate's answers which are handed over to CEIPI tutors for selection and addition of their comments. The set of commented answer papers will be made available on the forum.

Click here to read the full announcement.

Click here for the forum.