PCT course
with Pete Pollard

Optimizing PCT: a goal-oriented revision course

If you’re struggling with PCT, you are definitely not alone. Whether you are preparing for the Paper F or Paper D, we’ve got you! After the feedbacks of last year, we have changed the structure a bit and also included example EQE questions – in order to make the course more practical for the EQE.

We are organising one study group on Monday evenings starting in January. Please see the dates and more details below.

January-February (2025) PCT course:

  • Thursday, 23 January, 18:00-21:00 (CET)

  • Thursday, 30 January, 18:00-21:00 (CET)

  • Wednesday, 5 February, 18:00-21:00 (CET)

  • Wednesday, 12 February, 18:00-21:00 (CET)

Meetings: Online (All meetings will be recorded.)

Places: Minimum 10, maximum 20 (on a first come, first served basis)

 

  • Are you preparing for Paper D?

  • Are you struggling with the topic of PCT?

  • Would you like to finally understand the big picture?

  • Do you want to focus on PCT and revise all steps in the procedure?

  • Are you not sure how to study for this part of the exams?

  • Do you need to study outside work hours?

  • Would you like to refresh the topic of PCT in four evenings?

If so, Pete Pollard would love to have you in his PCT study group!

Feedback from last year:

“Pete’s PCT course helped me to better understand the intricacies of the PCT system and its processes, including formalities. Pete put a special emphasis on the subject matter that could be important for EQE. We solved few EQE questions together with Pete, where he did not merely provide answers to the questions but showed how he would approach the questions and shared his thought processes with us in real time. Pete also shared his experience in prosecuting PCT applications and gave us actionable tips, which when I put into practice provided favourable results for my client. On a personal note, as someone who finds natural language rather ambiguous, I must say that Pete’s delivery perfectly matched my needs for clarity and precision of language. I highly recommend this course to all who would like to deepen their understanding of the PCT system - to both EQE candidates and seasoned practitioners. Last but not least, “meeting” Pete was really inspiring as it is inspiring to meet an experienced practitioner who loves what he does and dedicates so much of his time and energy to sharing his knowledge and experience with others. ”
— Irina Demina
 

Study plan

 

Session 1 (3 hours)

  • Review of the main steps in PCT and recent PCT changes

  • Key PCT resources for revision & during the exam

  • Avoiding filing errors and defects

    • Fatal errors to be avoided

    • Best practices during preparation and filing

    • Filing at different receiving offices, including IB

    • Avoiding shortfalls when paying

  • Reducing administration during national phases

    • Using DAS for priority documents

    • Rule 4.17 declarations in ePCT

    • Changing data under Rule 92bis

    • Filing Article 19 amendments

  • Relevant future developments

  • Example EQE questions

Session 2 (3 hours)

  • Avoiding and fixing unusual problems

    • Correcting obvious errors

    • Excuse of missed time limits

    • Restoration of priority

    • Incorporation of missing elements and parts

  • Avoiding problems during search

    • Responding to non-unity objections

    • Paying additional search fees

    • Dealing with a declaration of no search

  • Improving quality of patentability opinions (1)

    • Providing earlier search results to ISA

    • Use of PCT-direct to get a fee refund

  • Relevant future developments

  • Example EQE questions

 

Session 3 (3 hours)

  • Improving quality of patentability opinions (2)

    • Requesting a supplementary international search

    • Filing a demand and discussing the case by phone

    • Filing third-party observations anonymously

  • Increasing value of application for applicant

    • Speed and accuracy contributing to a positive opinion

    • PCT and national actions to create provisional protection

    • Accelerating, delaying or preventing publication

    • Registering for licensing

    • Early entry, accelerating national grant

  • Relevant future developments

  • Example EQE questions

Session 4 ( 3 hours)

  • Smoothing national and regional entry

    • Best practices in general

    • Early entry or delaying national entry

    • Use of bypass route instead of US entry

  • EP entry

    • Review of the main steps

    • Optimising EP entry

    • Early entry before the EPO

    • EP entry with Further Processing

  • Relevant future developments

  • Example EQE questions

4 evenings – ca. 12 hours of training – small group – online meetings

 

PCT provides a pool of options which can be used in many ways. This revision course considers the possibilities in relation to specific goals, showing why each option should be chosen, how they contribute to the applicant’s goals, and possible benefits and risks. Goals covered include avoiding filing defects and search problems, improving the quality and speed of written opinions, increasing value for the applicant, fixing unusual problems, smoothing entry and reducing administration in the national phases. These goals are not only important in real-life, but they often form part of examination questions.

This course is ideal for trainee patent attorneys and paralegals / IP administrators with a good understanding of PCT actions and procedure who wish to check and deepen their knowledge. The focus of the course is on PCT’s unusual formal requirements, but unfamiliar substantive requirements are also covered.

 

About your tutor

Pete Pollard (European & Dutch Patent Attorney, European Design & Trademark Attorney, Certified NL Formalities Officer)

  • Originally from the UK, Pete has worked in the Netherlands for more than 20 years. After 5 years in-house at ASML, he worked for 10 years at the private practice DeltaPatents, dividing his time between patent work, management and training. As partner, he was responsible for their formalities group. He was one of the original tutors training NL patent administrators, and passed the first exam himself in 2011 to become a Certified Formalities Officer (NL). In 2017 he started his own virtual firm, Fireball Patents, providing pragmatic cost-effective IP services to local and foreign startups such as pursuing European patents in ‘no translation’ jurisdictions, concentrating on US filings, treating innovations as trade secrets, or pursuing utility models. He handles his own formalities before the EUIPO, NL, EP and IB offices.

  • Pete has taught European patent law since 2009, specialising in PCT and European Bar (EQE) preparation. He frequently runs courses in English for IP administrators through the German FORUM Institut. He is also the author of the PCT reference PCT.App, available as a fully customisable reference in IP appify’s online platform, or as a printed book.

 

Are you interested in attending?

Using the button below, you can sign up or ask about the fee and further details.