Navigating the EPO and the European Patent System - Summer School

This practical and highly interactive summer school will help all patent administrative staff in the competent preparation, application and defence of patents at the EPO.

Days one and two focus on the highly complex area and the procedural steps to be followed when preparing an application for filing before the EPO. The expert trainer will take you through the formalities procedures, including details of time limits and fee payments.

Covering electronic filing, transfer of rights, examination procedure, post-grant proceedings and an overview of PCT, these two days will deepen your understanding and enable you to be more efficient in your role.

Days three and four combine a full day of claim drafting fundamentals with a day of focussed workshops. Attendees can choose to attend either a mechanical or chemical workshop.

These intensive two days will help refine your drafting skills and master the art of successfully preparing and defending claims according to European practice. Covering key techniques to achieve adequate protection while meeting official requirements and analysing the crucial aspects of good description, amendment and interpretation will give you the edge in claim drafting.

Day five deals with the technicalities of Article 123(2), dealing with added subject matter, and Article 56, inventive step and the problem-solution approach.

Amendments made during the grant procedure to incorporate new prior art amount to added subject matter, which is often fatal in opposition procedure before the EPO and in nullity proceedings before national courts. The expert trainer will identify problems of added subject matter and show how they can be avoided.

The ‘problem-solution’ approach has been developed by case law and it is now hard to find a decision of the Boards of Appeal that don’t rely on this to decide on inventive step. It’s important to understand how to effectively use the problem-solution approach to gain an edge over other parties.

By attending this summer school, you will improve your knowledge and be better equipped and more efficient in your role. The course also offers the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals from other companies and question the expert trainers on the procedures.