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Management Forum

Formal Requirements of the European Patent System Training Course

This two-day seminar for administrative staff in the patent profession details how to competently prepare an application for filing before the EPO. *INCLUDES: Practical and interactive exercises*

★★★★★ "I wanted to deepen my knowledge regarding the formalities procedures at EPO, especially regarding no... more (7)"

14-15 July 2025
+ 18-21 November 2025 »
from £1199

Need help? Enrol/reserve

Format: Live online
CPD: 12 hours for your records
Certificate of completion

Course overview

This practical and interactive course will guide administrative staff in the competent preparation of an application for filing before the EPO. The programme will deepen your understanding of this highly complex area by providing information on all the key administrative aspects including the documentation required on filing, the procedural steps to be followed, and details of time limits and fee payments.

These intensive and highly valuable two days will enhance your knowledge of the formalities procedures at the EPO and enable you to be more efficient in your role.

Key topics to be covered:

Introduction to the European patent system
The European patent application
Electronic filing
Procedure before the receiving section and search divisions
Time limits and fees
Loss of rights, transfer of rights
Examination procedure
Post-grant proceedings
Overview of PCT
Regional entry before the European Patent Office (EPO)

The course includes a mix of theory and practical exercises and case studies to enhance the learning experience. There will also be time to put your questions to our expert trainer on the procedures. The course also offers the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals from other companies.

This course is part of our collection of IP & Patents Training Courses.

Benefits of attending

By attending this seminar, you will:

Master the art of competently preparing an application for filing before the EPO
Receive guidance and insights on all the latest administrative aspects
Learn which documents are required on filing
Understand the procedural steps involved and how to complete them successfully
Get to grips with time limits and how they can affect your application
Review all aspects of fee payments

There will be time during the course to ask your questions to the expert trainer and get solutions to the challenges you encounter.

Who should attend?

This course will be of particular value to:

Patent administrators and patent formalities staff
Office managers in industrial patent departments
Patent administrators in private practice

Plus all those needing a good understanding of the formal requirements of the European patent system.

Enrol/reserve

This course will cover:

Introduction to the European patent system

History and development
Organisation of the EPO
Departmental responsibilities

The European patent application

Documents needed on filing
Accordance of a date of filing
Formalities examination
Missing parts of the description and missing drawings
Case management

Practical exercise: Divisional application

Introduction to electronic filing

Case management system
Web-form filing

Procedure before the receiving section and search divisions

Search report and search opinion
Response to the search opinion
Publication of the application

Fees

Modes of payment
Reductions
Refunds

Practical exercise: Fee payment

Time limits – notification

Calculation
Extensions
Notification

Loss of rights – remedies

Further processing
Re-establishment of rights
Transfer of rights

Practical exercise: Time limits

Substantive examination – examining division

Formal procedures up to grant of the European patent
Refusal of the application
Withdrawal of the application
Deemed to be withdrawn
Accelerated examination

Post-grant proceedings

Opposition
Limitation
Appeal

Overview of PCT

Overview of the international phase
Entry in the regional phase

Regional entry before the EPO as designated office

EPO Form 1200
Payment of fees
Supplementary European search
Substantive examination

Enrol/reserve

Richard Gillespie
Inventorship

Richard Gillespie, European and Irish Patent Attorney and owner of Inventorship, an intellectual property advice and services company, has over fifteen years’ experience in diverse technical fields (such as medical devices, computers, electronics, and telecoms) from his work at top tier patent practices in Dublin and London. He organises CEIPI tutorials for preparing Irish trainees to become European Patent Attorneys. He also tutors on European and Irish law relating to inventive step.

Richard is a qualified European and Irish patent attorney and a qualified design representative before the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). He holds a degree in computer and electronic engineering from Trinity College Dublin. While there he completed a research master’s degree on the power consumption of CMOS binary multipliers, kayaked and played the guitar. During this time, he enjoyed teaching undergraduate laboratory courses in telecommunications.

More details

NEW higher discounts for multiple bookings - bring your colleagues to make your training budget go further:

30% off the 2nd delegate*
40% off the 3rd delegate*
50% off the 4th delegate*

Please contact us for pricing if you are interested in booking 5 or more delegates

14-15 July 2025

Live online

09:00-17:00 UK (London) (UTC+01)
10:00-18:00 Paris (UTC+02)
04:00-12:00 New York (UTC-04)
Course code 15270

GBP 1,199 1,399
EUR 1,679 1,959
USD 1,927 2,239

Until 09 Jun

2 days live online training
Browser-based, no download usually required
See presenters and interact with fellow attendees
Download documentation and certification of completion
Fair transfer and cancellation policy

View basket

Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

18-21 November 2025

Live online

13:30-16:45 UK (London) (UTC+00)
14:30-17:45 Paris (UTC+01)
08:30-11:45 New York (UTC-05)
Course code 15062

GBP 1,199 1,399
EUR 1,679 1,959
USD 1,927 2,239

Until 14 Oct

4 sessions of live online training
Browser-based, no download usually required
See presenters and interact with fellow attendees
Download documentation and certification of completion
Fair transfer and cancellation policy

View basket

Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

* Early booking discounts may not be combined with other discounts or offers. As such, the discounts for 2nd/3rd/4th delegates are based on the full price; and apply only when booking multiple delegates on the same date.

Reviews of IPI's Formal Requirements of the European Patent System training course

I wanted to deepen my knowledge regarding the formalities procedures at EPO, especially regarding non-common cases, and now I am much more confident with them. I liked the presentations of Ms Schmitz and Mr Mulder very much and the way they transmit their immense knowledge about EPO procedures. I found the course very stimulating and it made me want to acquire more and more knowledge about the procedures we apply every day in our work.

Nov 28 2019

Federica Lena Italy
Patent Assistant, Marben s.r.l.

Nov 29 2018

The best course for the subject I have attended.

Sophia Florous Greece
Formalities Officer , Industrial Property Organisation

Nov 29 2018

All at a very high level and I must say that both speakers were outstanding. The hand-outs offered will help in our office and the content was comprehensive.

Adriana Fontanarosa Italy
Patent Formalities, Hoffmann Eitle SRL

Nov 29 2018

I found the course very well structured, the presentation was very clear and perfectly conducted by the speakers who were able to give all requested details and maintain the attention of the participants. Just brilliant! I particularly liked the practical examples and exercises.

Lisa Visentin Italy
Patent Formalities, HOFFMANN EITLE S.R.L.

Nov 7 2017

An informative and interesting seminar.

Galina Federau Germany
RDP/Patents-Licenses, itSMS GmbH