From 2017, the drafting Paper A and the reply
Paper B will be non-specialist papers for all candidates, replacing the former
specialised electrical-mechanical and chemistry papers.
This change was dictated by the need to
reduce the substantial cost of running the EQE, and met with much criticism (in
my opinion largely unjustified) from many European Patent Attorneys.
The exam committees have issued mock Papers A
and B with prototype examiners reports and the European Patent Academy has
published a video in question and answer style which aims to answer any
questions candidates may have about the new format.
Candidates are of course faced with
accommodating to the new exam format and in this spirit I have prepared a YouTube
presentation which aims to complement the official Q&A version.
Overall, I am convinced that candidates
wishing to pass will need to pay great attention to the client’s instructions
for the specific invention as this will influence the proper claim scope and, for
Paper A, will dictate the need for one or more independent claims.
You can access the presentation by going to
YouTube and keying in “EQE non-specialist”. There is a minor hiccup on slide 10
(repeated part) : just keep going!
Brian Cronin
PATSKILLS
