Monday, March 03, 2014 EQE 2015-2017: dates, times and Regulations

The Exam Secretariat announced the dates and times of the exam papers of EQE 2015, 2016 and 2017:

EQE 2015: 23.02.2015 – 26.02.2015

EQE 2016: 29.02.2016 – 03.03.2016

EQE 2017: 06.03.2017 – 09.03.2017

Further, the EPO published a consolidated version of all EQE regulations in "Supplementary publication - Official Journal EPO 2/2014 - Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives".

In 2015, 2016 and 2017, the times are unchanged compared to this year and last year:

• The Pre-Exam is on Mondays, 13:00 – 17:00
• The D-paper is on Tuesdays, 9:30 – 14:30
• The A-papers are on Wednesday, 9:30 – 13:00
• The B-papers are on Wednesdays, 14:30 – 17:30
• The C-papers are on Thursdays, 9:30 – 14:30
• Times indicated are Munich/ The Hague time. Helsinki and Bristol times are plus/minus one hour different.

Details can be found on the EQE webpages (http://www.epo.org/learning-events/eqe.html) and in particular the Notice of 21 February 2014 from the Examination Secretariat.

The Suppl. OJ 2/2014 contains:

• Decision of the Administrative Council of 10 December 2008 amending the Regulation on the European qualifyingexamination for professional representatives before the European Patent Office (CA/D 26/08);

• Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives (REE);

• Implementing provisions to the Regulation on the European qualifying examination for professional representatives (IPREE) as Amended by decision of the Supervisory Board of 1.10.2013 which entered into force on 10.10.2013;

• Instructions to candidates concerning the conduct of the European qualifying examination;

• Decision of the Examination Board of 24 October 2011 (Candidates may bring any books and documents they consider useful)

• Decision of the Supervisory Board of 1 October 2013 (Pre-Exam pass level set to 70 marks for pre-examinations) held as from 2014)

Good luck with your preparation! See you in one or more of our courses!

As an appetizer and incentive to make you start studying early, and timely register for one of our courses, we already provide a possible question for the Pre-Exam 2016:

Question 0 of Pre-Exam 2016

An applicant filed a European patent application EP-A on Friday 21 February 2014. EP-A was published together with the European search report in August 2015. The applicant forgot to timely pay the examination fee and received a loss-of-rights communication dated 17 February 2016.

For each of statements 0.1 – 0.4, indicate on the answer sheet whether the statement is true or false:

0.1 This is the first time ever that an EQE exam paper is taken on a leap-day.

0.2 The last day to perform further processing in respect of the time limit for 
       requesting examination is 27 April 2016.

0.3 The due date for payment of the renewal fee in respect of the third year is today.

0.4 The last day to pay the renewal fee together with an additional 50% is Monday 29.08.2016.