This distance learning course is offered to patent examiners at national IP offices. Participants will learn to apply the criteria for clarity as well as the methodology for determining the unity of invention in line with the EPO practice (Guidelines and Case Law). Virtual classroom sessions allow for direct interaction with EPO expert tutors.

This distance learning course is offered to patent examiners at national IP offices. Participants will learn to assess novelty and inventive step in line with the EPO practice (Guidelines and Case Law). Virtual classroom sessions allow for direct interaction with expert tutors from the European Patent Office.

Level of expertise: Intermediate level

This distance learning course is offered to patent examiners of national IP offices, in particular those in charge of drafting communications on the merits of a patent application with respect to patentability requirements. Participants will broaden their skills in preparing the written search opinion accompanying a search report according to EPO Guidelines. Training will consist of on-line modules and tests. Recorded sessions of virtual classrooms which took place during the course OD09-2017 further enhance the understanding of the topics.

If you are interested in the course, get in touch with the Academy contact person at your office or with academy@epo.org.

The course looks at six real-life cases, each of which we plan to discuss in two virtual classrooms. In the first VC for each case we will analyse the case and the strategy, and in the second we will discuss the solutions proposed. Each case will focus on a particular tool in EPOQUE Net, and you will be asked to carry out searches using these tools.

The cases are uploaded in the course room so that you can prepare for the VCs. You should familiarise yourself with the case and draw up a solution for it. We will then compare your solution with the solutions provided by the tutors and the other participants.

You should also watch the relevant videos (see the respective sections) in advance.

This online course is offered to patent examiners at national IP offices of EPO member states to train them in the use of the CPVO database introduced to the EPOQUE Net tool. The training takes place in a virtual classroom (VC) session during which participants have the possibility to communicate live with the trainers and ask questions.

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