The e-EQE platform has gone live on 21 December 2020. Apart from candidates who are registered for the EQE in March, also tutors have been allowed access to the platform.
If you are a tutor for the EQE and have not requested access yet, you can still do so. What is required : first name, family name, email address. Those who request access will then be put in an Excel sheet which will be uploaded by the EPO in the e:EQE system.
Tutors who want to have access to the Mock 2 have to register before next Monday, 25 January 2021.
All tutors who already have access to Mock 1, will automatically get access to Mock 2. They do not need to apply again.
Send your first name, family name, email address to sadia.liebig@patentepi.org
brochure for all new Council Members is available after login.
Further information and a detailed guide can be found here. New channel for epi members to share tips, tricks, suggestions on the use of the forum.
epi Information
epi publishes a quarterly journal. Its primary objective is to inform members of epi's current activities.
Deadline for epi Information 1|2021: 5 February 2021
Welcome
The Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi) came into existence pursuant to the European Patent Convention (EPC).
the Boards of Appeal
In press release dated 15 December 2020, the Boards of Appeal inform that they have reassessed some of their measures for the arrangement and conduct of oral proceedings. In particular, the practice on conducting oral proceedings using videoconferencing (VICO) technology has been revised: from 1 January 2021 Boards may conduct oral proceedings by VICO even without the agreement of the parties concerned, as has now been made clear in the new Article 15a RPBA adopted by the Boards of Appeal Committee, which enter into force on 1 April 2021. Since the new provision merely clarifies an existing possibility, Boards may adapt their practice as regards dispensing with the need to obtain the agreement of the parties concerned even before the date of its entry into force of Article 15a RPBA.
to be held by videoconference
In a press release dated 10 November 2020, the European Patent Office announced (i) that the postponement of in-person opposition hearings (currently until 31 December 2020) is further extended to 15 September 2021 and (ii) that the consent of all parties for holding an opposition by VICO will no longer be necessary with effect from 4 January 2021, until 15 September 2021.
This measure is intended (according to the EPO) to »clear the substantial backlog of opposition hearings that built up over the last six months with a resulting loss in timeliness which is critical for access to justice«. The decision of the President of the EPO in this respect and a Notice from the EPO, both to be published in the OJ, can be found here and here.
e-EQE 2021
Information on the schedule for the EQE 2021 examination papers is available here.
The EQE 2021 will take place online using LockDown Browser. On examination days, candidates are advised to log on to the online examination system's internet platform at least 20 minutes before the start of the relevant paper. Information on how to register and log on to the online examination system will be communicated in due course. The pre-examination and both papers C and D will be split into parts. This means that candidates will not be free to allocate their time as they see fit across the different parts of the papers. To compensate for this restriction, the total duration of the relevant papers has been extended. Once the time allowed for a part has elapsed, it will not be possible to go back to that part.
The EPO has shared new information on the format of the online EQE in March 2021.
(https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/faq.html)
(and then click on ‘e-EQE’)
Information can be found on the format of the exam, such as that:
- you can sit the exam at home or workplace (no other person will be allowed in the room);
- a locked browse will be used;
- only one screen can be used;
- the exam papers will be made available in a PDF viewer;
- part of the exam papers can be printed;
- notes can be made on paper;
- basic text editing is possible allowing copying and pasting;
- the answers have to be type-written using the editor provided in the locked browser (scanning and uploading will not be allowed);
Candidates will be able to familiarise themselves with the software as of January 2021.
Further updates will be made available in due time.
epi supports e-EQE in 2021
Following the decision of the Supervisory Board of the EQE announced on the EPO-EQE website (https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe.html) that, in March 2021, the Pre-Exam and the Main Exam will be conducted online.
An e-EQE Working Group composed of EPO and epi representatives is actively working out the necessary arrangements.
January 04, 2021
Webinars on collaboration with oversea patent attorneys
epi continues with offering webinars free of charge to all members and students. Collaboration with oversea patent attorneys is the first topic to start with and is scheduled in four webinars.
December 21, 2020
The mock e-EQE provides participants with the chance to sit the EQE exams under exam like circumstances.
epi meetings in view of the Covid-19 situation
(update 7 July 2020)
The Presidium and the Board of the epi are closely monitoring the situation created in Europe by the Covid-19 epidemic. Sadly, we can only observe how this epidemic is impacting our families, our communities, our profession and our very way of life. We can but hope that all of you are well and keeping safe.
Measures have been implemented to ensure, as far as possible under the circumstances, support for the Presidium, Board, Council and committees.
On 29 June 2020, epi C88 Council meeting was held electronically including voting for e.g. the members of the Board and the Disciplinary committee.
Further precautionary measures include the postponement or cancellation of all epi meetings and educational events. Committee meetings can be conducted using the videoconference tool of epi.