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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)"

3-4 March 2025
+ 14-15 July 2025, 18-21 November 2025 »

from £1199

Need help?  Enrol/reserve

Course overview

This practical and interactive course will help 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, 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 will also offer the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals from other companies and put your questions to our expert trainer on the procedures.

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

Why you should attend

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

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

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

3-4 March 2025

Live online

09:30-17:00 UK (London) (UTC+00)
10:30-18:00 Paris (UTC+01)
04:30-12:00 New York (UTC-05)
Course code 14520

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

Until 27 Jan

View basket 

 
Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

14-15 July 2025

Classroom
Rembrandt Hotel
London

09:00-17:00 UK (London)
Course code 15270
Optional £300/€419/$479 per night

  • GBP 1,399 1,599
  • EUR 1,959 2,239
  • USD 2,247 2,559

Until 09 Jun

  • 2 days classroom-based training
  • Optional accommodation - 2 nights including breakfast, checking in the day before the course
  • Meet presenters and fellow attendees in person
  • Lunch and refreshments provided
  • 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

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
Patent Assistant, Marben s.r.l.

Nov 29 2018

The best course for the subject I have attended.

Sophia Florous
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
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
Patent Formalities, HOFFMANN EITLE S.R.L.

Nov 7 2017

An informative and interesting seminar.

Galina Federau
RDP/Patents-Licenses, itSMS GmbH

Nov 7 2017

Structured, knowledgeable and easy to listen, the speakers were excellent.

Anna Eriksson
IP Coordinator, Awapatent AB

Nov 7 2017

The speakers themselves were clear and easy to understand. They obviously had vast knowledge of patents and were enthusiastic.

Debbie Butler
Patent Administrator, Eli Lilly and Company

Belgium

  • Ablynx
  • Agfa-Gevaert NV
  • Bayer CropScience N.V.
  • Denk IP bvba
  • IMEC VZW

Italy

  • Hoffmann Eitle
  • HOFFMANN EITLE S.R.L.
  • Hoffmann Eitle SRL
  • Marben s.r.l.
  • SEALED AIR SRL

Netherlands

  • Koninklijke KPN
  • Koninklijke KPN N.V.
  • NLO
  • Shell International B.V.

Spain

  • Galbaian S.Coop
  • ZBM Patents
  • ZBM Patents & Trademarks
  • ZBM PATENTS, S.L.

Sweden

  • AstraZeneca AB
  • AWA Sweden AB
  • Awapatent AB
  • Ericsson AB

Switzerland

  • Firmenich SA
  • JT International SA
  • JTI SA
  • Philip Morris Products S.A.

United Kingdom

  • Eli Lilly and Company
  • Kilburn & Strode LLP
  • Schlumberger Cambridge Research Ltd

Germany

  • Ericsson GmbH
  • itSMS GmbH

Greece

  • BIC VIOLEX S.A.
  • Industrial Property Organisation

Norway

  • Bryn Aarflot A/S
  • Zacco Norway AS

Canada

  • BCF

Denmark

  • Coloplast A/S

Luxembourg

  • Marks & Clerk LLP

Poland

  • JTI GBS Poland Sp. z o.o.

United States of America

  • Essilor of America

Enrol/reserve

Run Formal Requirements of the European Patent System Live online/Classroom for your team

2 days

Typical duration

Pricing from:

  • GBP 800
  • Per attendee, based on 10 attendees
  • Course tailored to your requirements
  • At your choice of location, or online

 

We can customise this course to your requirements and deliver it on an in-house basis for any number of your staff or colleagues.

Contact our in-house training experts Aleksandra Beer and Yesim Nurko to discuss your requirements:

Multiple colleagues? See above for details of our discounts for 2, 3, or 4 delegates. For more, talk to one of our training experts to discuss how to:

Run this course conveniently and cost-effectively in-house for your staff and colleagues

Aleksandra Beer

Aleksandra BEER
Training expert

Yesim Nurko

Yesim NURKO
Training expert

+44 (0)20 7749 4749

inhouse@ipi.academy