REPRESENTATION
CEIPI/epi
Basic training in European patent law
1. The basic course provides a systematic and comprehensive introduction to the law and practice of the European patent system. Over the years, CEIPI and the epi have together devised a basic training programme in European patent law designed primarily for prospective professional representatives before the EPO.
2. Joint CEIPI/epi basic training courses in European patent law take two years, starting in the autumn of each year.
3. Altogether 27 courses able to accommodate a total of 400 students are currently available in the following cities:
AT: Vienna
BE: Antwerp, Brussels
CH: Basel, Lausanne, Zurich
DE: Cologne, Darmstadt, Hanover, Ludwigshafen, Munich, Stuttgart
DK: Copenhagen
ES: Barcelona
FI: Helsinki
FR: Lyon, Paris
GB: Bristol, London, Manchester
IE: Dublin
IT: Milan
NL: Eindhoven, Geleen, The Hague
SE: Göteborg, Stockholm
4. The basic training scheme, which is also intended to help candidates to prepare for the European qualifying examination, lasts two years and is designed to accompany the professional practice, starting shortly after the future patent specialist has begun training with a professional representative or patent department. Following a re-organisation of the syllabus, students may also be admitted to most courses after the first year.
5. The basic training courses will take the form of private study instructed and actively supported by local "tutors", all experienced specialists in European patent law, who twenty evenings a year for three hours at a time will discuss topics and cases previously prepared by participants, answer questions and set further topics for study. The success of the "tutorial" depends on the active co-operation of the trainees with their own presentations and case studies.
6. The list of topics to be covered will encompass the whole European patent law and qualifying examination syllabus and indicate the reference material to be used. Training material as well as publications and further documents will also be made available. The tutors regularly receive circular letters and further training material.
7. Tutors' meetings take place two days every year at Strasbourg University to discuss in the light of experience how best to structure the courses.
8. On completion of the basic course, candidates are expected to round off their training and prepare for the European qualifying examination through private study. Special courses are available, such as the epi tutorials (epi information 1/2000) and the one-week CEIPI seminars on "European patent law" for the preparation of the examination, held in Strasbourg (Paper D in January, Papers A-C in February, see OJ EPO 8-9/2000) and a variety of national courses.
9. Readers are reminded that the basic training course does not dispense with the need for further intensive study for the qualifying examination; it provides candidates with no more than a broad grounding in European patent law and its international ramifications.
10. It is planned to hold courses each year beginning in September or October at various centres in the contracting states if there is a minimum of three participants in each case and suitable tutors are available. The cost will be FRF 6 500 per person per year (FRF 13 000 for the two-year course).
11. To enable the next round of courses to be organised in good time, those interested are asked to contact CEIPI as soon as possible and in any event not later than 1 July 2000 at the following address.
The CEIPI Office may give you any further information you need.
Mme Rosemarie Blott
Centre d'Etudes Internationales de la
Propriété Industrielle (CEIPI)
Section Internationale
Université Robert Schuman
11, rue du Maréchal Juin
F-67000 Strasbourg
Tel.: +33(0)3 88 14 45 92
Fax: +33(0)3 88 14 45 94
e-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.ceipi.edu