Judicial training

Target audience

In many countries the relatively small number of patent cases, the rotation of judges between different areas of law, and the absence of specialist patent courts, mean that high levels of judicial expertise in patent matters can be hard to find.

The Academy's Judicial Training unit brings together legal expertise in this area from all over Europe, drawing on the skills and experience of judges, public prosecutors, court experts, lawyers and patent attorneys practising before their national courts, as well as other law enforcement officials working in the field of intellectual property.

Getting the message across

The Judicial Training unit supports and develops training initiatives aimed at harmonising patent enforcement and litigation practice in Europe.

Judges and other legal professionals need to be able to work from a common level of understanding when exchanging information with their respective European counterparts. The Academy's training sessions and discussion forums promote and facilitate a deeper understanding of the main issues. This will make a major contribution towards standardising the application of patent law and the conduct of litigation throughout Europe.

How the Academy makes a difference

The Judicial Training unit co-ordinates training in patent-related intellectual property law and practice for the judiciary. It offers a variety of training activities, ranging from regional intellectual property enforcement and litigation seminars to study visits to the EPO.

Workshops provide an opportunity for judges with high patent caseloads from across Europe to meet and share views on important issues in the application of patent law. Discussions with judges are also helpful in devising future training plans.

The creation of platforms for the exchange of best practices and ideas will enable judges to benchmark their experience against that of their colleagues from other countries. This knowledge exchange is a key element in promoting the harmonised application of patent law throughout the EPO member states.

Watch an e-learning module for judges: The scope of protection under Article 69 EPC