Study Materials
Our books, downloads and useful links
Always double check the status of the info with the latest official resources.
Consult an authorised professional or legal counsel before relying on the information presented.
Update 1 Sep 24: PCT.App updated & revised
Update 15 Oct 24: EPO-EPC Guidelines for EQE25 now available
Patent Law (PCT)
1 Sep 24: updated, including legal changes of 1 July 24 added. See blog post for details.
PCT.App - online or printed book
PCT.App tackles the well-known problem that the Articles define only basic matter, and the Rules have become so convoluted that they are difficult to comprehend.
Combining knowledge from 10 years of teaching PCT, and the highly automated IP.appify platform, we have created a pioneering legal reference for IP professionals who wish to go beyond the guidance provided in official WIPO user guides.
For lawyers, patent attorneys & formalities officers. Crucial for daily practice and essential for European Qualifying Exam (EQE) students. Available in English & German..
Available online for those who prefer digital access and want to tailor the content with their own annotations and highlighting, and hide unwanted parts. Subscribers can make printable colour pdf's at any time, or use print-on-demand for a colour hardcopy. A fully-commented black-and-white paper book is also available.
130 SUBJECTS and PARTS are organized into 15 SECTIONS by merging the order of the Articles with the chronological order of the WIPO Applicant’s Guide. This mirrors the life of a PCT application.
Each SUBJECT and PART includes paragraphs from the most relevant provisions - less relevant parts are hidden or cross-referenced. All Articles & Rules are included at least once..
Legal texts and comments are displayed side-by-side. Standardized layout & marking is used to emphasize keywords, time limits, fees, languages, and legal consequences.
Extensive comments, internal cross-references and external lniks are assigned per paragraph. Overviews & explanation are provided for complex subjects such as priority, remedies, representation and filing date requirements.
It is sufficiently detailed for the EQE without further annotation.
PCT.App is in the cloud, and readable using any internet browser on your mobile phone or tablet. See here for examples of screenshots. It is searchable, with hyperlinks & cross-references to internal & external resources. For editing content, it is recommended to use a larger screen with a mouse & keyboard.
Legal updates occur automatically without disturbing your individual annotations, so there is no need to transfer your notes.
Order in English or German
Online (self-editable, colour):
18x25cm book (50 or 90g paper, B/W):
- I passed EQE paper D by reading and tabbing the .app books!
- There is NO WAY I would have got through EQE-D if not for choosing EPC.app and PCT.app as my main texts
- A very clever idea to have a digital version to input your annotations with updates
- EPC.app and PCT.app helped me a lot in EQE Paper D - I did not even need to annotate it
- Pete's PCT.APP book saved me on EQE Paper D1
- I found it to be very good for EQE D exam. The plain language and keyword index made it work for me
- Being able to edit the contents to how I see fit was a surprisingly easy experience
- Organising PCT.App by subject in the order that an application would go through PCT gives an intuition that I haven’t found in other materials
- How convenient to have Till & Pete update your go-to EPC & PCT so they are always up to date
- Can´t recommend enough for EQE candidates as well as anyone in the profession
- I always had the material, with my own annotations, available online and as a printed book
Indexed PCT Applicant's Guide
This book includes the higher and middle levels of the WIPO Guidelines. The Administrative Instructions (AI) are standard guidance for implementing regulation. The Applicant’s Guides (AG-IP & AG-NP) cover the most common issues. This book DOES NOT include the RO Guidelines or ISPE Guidelines.
Useful for everyday use by attorneys & administrators. However, always double check the status with latest resources and national patent offices before relying on the information.
Recommended for EQE candidates - EPO-PCT Guidelines refer to sections of AI, RO GL, & ISPE GL. Answers at EQE should be supported by PCT Articles, Rules & EPO-PCT Guidelines (IPREE R.22) citations.
It includes:
- PCT States & Fee Table
- AG-IP - Introduction to International Phase
- AI - Administrative Instructions
- Overview of available Applicant & Office forms
- Useful overviews from www.wipo.int
- AG-NP - Introduction to National Phase
All parts include our Detailed Table of Contents, page numbers, and indicates sections with major changes in last 3 years.
1 Jul 2023 includes:
- Very few legal changes in 2023, so many references from 2022 are still valid.
- Treaty Memberships, Fees & Reservations: 1 Aug 23
- Overview of forms: 1 Aug 23
- AG-IP, AG-NP: 9 Feb 23
- AI: 1 Jul 22
- Useful overviews from www.wipo.int: 1 Aug 23
Next edition: 31 Oct 24
Printers are Pumbo (EU) & Amazon (worldwide):
Book store entries include detailed content lists. Contents are B/W.
Study Edition with thicker 80g paper is more suitable for intensive tabbing, annotating and highlighting.
Portable Edition with 50g "bible" paper is thinner & lighter.
Patent Law (EPC)
EPC.App - online or printed book
EPC.App is an up-to-date annotated European Patent Convention, designed to optimize finding the most relevant information.
It is suitable for daily practice, and for EQE candidates. A knowledgable IP professional can quickly scan & find the legal points they need.
Using their own EQE materials and the online legal platform IP.appify, the authors have carefully selected and abbreviated their comments & references. So, candidates should prepare by using it extensively to answer legal questions, so that the annotations trigger the correct knowledge at the exam..
The order of the Articles is adopted, followed by the most relevant Rules. All articles, rules and protocols of the EPC as well as the Rules relating to Fees are fully reproduced.
References between provisions are commented & annotated. Summaries from the Examination Guidelines, Official Journal articles and case law are included.
Standardized layout & marking is used to emphasize keywords, time limits, fees, languages, and legal consequences, either in black & white (printed book) or color (online).
Legal texts and comments are displayed side-by-side. Selected comments are assigned per paragraph with internal cross-references & external links.
Subscribers can digitally navigate up-to-date legal texts on their mobile devices, and further shape the materials by adding / hiding legal texts & comments. No need to transfer notes when the law is updated.
A print-on-demand service is available to order personally customized color paperbacks.
Order in English or German
Online (self-editable, colour):
17x24cm book (90g paper, B/W):
Reviews:
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I passed EQE paper D by reading and tabbing the .app books!
-
There is NO WAY I would have got through EQE-D if not for choosing EPC.app and PCT.app as my main texts
-
A very clever idea to have a digital version to input your annotations with updates
-
EPC.app and PCT.app helped me a lot in EQE Paper D - I did not even need to annotate it
-
Being able to edit the contents to how I see fit was a surprisingly easy experience
-
How convenient to have Till & Pete update your go-to EPC & PCT so they are always up to date
-
Still sufficently concise, so that unlike a full-blown commentary, I had everything at my fingertips during the exam
-
Can´t recommend enough for EQE candidates as well as anyone in the profession
-
I always had the material, with my own annotations, available online and as a printed book
-
By consistently preparing and practicing questions with EPC.app as my entry point, I got better insight than those who relied on table books
Indexed EPO-EPC Guidelines & Unitary Patent Guide (EN
Covers EPO procedures during filing, search, examination, grant & opposition of EPC and Euro-PCT applications. Includes the complete official GL/EPO (EPO/EPC Guidelines), which are essential for exam candidates, and for professionals dealing with EPO applications in their daily life. Includes the EPO Unitary Patent Guide, outlining how to get an EU patent (available from 1 June 2023).
Includes:
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Our Detailed Table of Contents
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Complete official EPO Guidelines (GL/EPO)
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Official Index for Computer-Implemented Inventions (CII's)
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Official Alphabetical Keyword Index
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Official List of Sections Amended
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Complete official EPO Unitary Patent Guide
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NEW: Selected EPO Forms
Does NOT include EPC Articles & Rules or PCT-specific materials.
The official indexes per part have been replaced by our combined Detailed Table of Contents at the front, with page numbers, and indicating sections with major changes in last 3 years. Legal citations & references are underlined, making them easier to spot. Answers at EQE based on EPC Guidelines should be supported by EPC Articles, Rules, GL/EPO Guidelines (IPREE R.22) citations.
Printers are Pumbo (EU) & Amazon (worldwide):
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Book store entries include detailed content lists. Contents are B/W.
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Study Edition with thicker 80g paper is more suitable for intensive tabbing, annotating and highlighting.
Oct 24 Study Edition (A4) for EQE25:
21x30cm, 592 pages,31mm thick, 80g paper, 1550g
EQE & EPAC Resources
PCT Resources
To learn how PCT works, listen to these Learn the PCT videos, stop them regularly, and find the subjects in the PCT Applicants Guide.
EQE Resources
EQE Blogs
Pete's tips & info to help trainee patent attorneys pass the EQE. Also on LinkedIn.
IP appify's EPC/PCT/EQE Blog
Our Paper D Methodology
EQE Courses
- Maastricht University Courses
- EQELIBRIUM Mock Camp
Training for Administrators & Formalities
- Hands-on: Essential PCT Formalities
- Cross-over: Trademarks & Designs for Patent experts
- Cross-over: Patents for Trademark & Design experts
- In-depth Patents & Utility Models
- In-depth Trademarks & Designs
- Advanced PCT
This book helps EQE candidates to tackle Paper D of the EQE. It is also written in an exam-oriented style and allows candidates to copy the answers for the questions of the exam which can be found in the book, thereby maximizing the scores obtained for each question. The book is based on frequently asked topics of the exam and has many examples of old exams. Available via Amazon.
EQE Calendars
For EPAC2023 & EQE2024 with time limit tips and 10-day rule changes
Recommended Printer
PUMBO provides printing services, including true Print-on-Demand. They also offer thin 50g/60g paper. Automated portal for uploading new books and a good customer service.
Patent Law History
Records of the Washington Diplomatic Conference on PCT (1970)
Between 25 May 1970 and 19 June 1970, the Washington Diplomatic Conference took place to finalise the text of the PCT.
We are simply providing a convenient printing service to make this useful document more easily accessible.No copyright is claimed - the text of this book is available for free download from the WIPO website. It is useful for anyone studying the PCT, and its history - on paper, it is more convenient to jump between the different sections.
As well as many comments from the delegations, it also contains the original text of the
articles and rules as entered into force on 1 June 1978.
Most useful are the notes by the WIPO giving some background, how each provision relates to the rest of PCT and cross-references between the corresponding articles and rules.
The indexes are also quite detailed, allowing discussions to be found about particular provisions.
The book has been reduced to 165 x 241mm. It is 844 pages, and printed in black and white on thin 50gr bible-paper. The printer is Pumbo. It has been made a little larger than A5 to improve readability.
No copyright is claimed - the text of this book is available for free download from the WIPO website
Order as approx. A5 book (17 x 24cm):
2.9cm thick | 844 pages (865 gr) |
- This is a historic document and does not reflect the current legal status - PCT has been amended many times since this version.
- Use an up-to-date PCT (and EPC) reference
- In addition, national case law may have modified or even reversed some of the interpretations presented in the WDC.
Nothing in our training or study materials is to be considered as legal advice - our resources are intended for educational and informational purposes only. IP law is highly complex and continuously changing, so always double check the status with the latest official resources. Consult an authorised professional or legal counsel before relying on the information presented. In particular, the authors and Fireball Patents do not accept liability for the accuracy of the information or for any printing errors.
Retired Books
EPO as a PCT Authority (retired)
This book provides implementation details for PCT filing (RO), search (ISA, SISA), and examination (IPEA) before the EPO. It also covers PCT-Direct,
Supplementary PCT Search, regional entry into the European phase (DO/EO), and formalities after entry.
Useful for daily practice by those dealing with the EPO. It also includes references considered essential for EQE exam candidates.
Does not include: Articles & Rules or WIPO Guidelines.
Contents (online):
- EPO Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
- EP Validation procedures
- Accelerating your PCT Appln at EPO
- OJEPO Decisions, Fees & Reductions for PCT
- PCT Annexes for EPO as RO / (S)ISA / IPEA / DO-EO
- PCT Applicant & Office Forms
- EP Applicant Forms with Entry Form 1200 & Notes
- EPO (Office) Form Helper
- Euro-PCT Guide (EPG)
- EPO-PCT Guidelines (GL/PCT-EPO)
- EPO Guidelines (GL/EPO) – PCT part only (Ch. E-IX)
All Guidelines include our complete Detailed Table of Contents, page numbers, and indicate sections with major changes in last 3 years.
For answering exam questions, EPG helps with general parts and details are found in GL/PCT-EPO and GL/EPO. Answers should be supported by EPC/PCT Articles, Rules, GL/EPO, GL/PCT-EPO Guidelines (IPREE R.22) citations.
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Retired in 2022. No new updates available because of format changes in source docs by WIPO. See above for links to print yourself.
National Law & Validation (retired)
EPO does not provide their National Law tables on paper. Previously, we created a yearly printable version based upon the EPO html pages, but this has become too difficult to generate.
For daily practice, the national requirements change frequently, so always consult the up-to-date EPO website, or equivalent national office resources.
For the EQE exam, National Law tables are still essential: legal questions regularly cover provisional protection, translation requirements and national annuities. But since 2021, the WISEflow interface has provided online access to www.epo.org during the e-EQE exam, such as:
Our other publication "EPO as a PCT Authority" includes our overview of EU states, showing accession to Paris Convention / EPC / PCT, PCT entry time limits, automatic validation status, and main translation requirements. Additionally, it now includes an overview of Extension & Validation-related OJEPO's, and flowcharts illustrating a validation procedure.
PCT Global Reference - Part (1) & (2) (retired)
WIPO does
not provide paper versions of their Applicant’s Guidelines and Annexes, preferring to keep their website up-to-date. For daily practice, some practitioners may prefer an abbreviated paper version with useful overviews, and the most fre
quently needed PCT implementation details.
For PCT exam candidates, it is essential to have details from the Applicant’s Guide available. For example, legal questions are regularly directed to competent ISA’s, national entry, and fees due on filing. From EPAC 2022 / EQE 2023, the EPO website and PCT Applicant’s Guide will be available electronically during the exam.
For exam candidates:
From EPAC 2022 / EQE 2023, the WIPO no longer provides the 2100-page printable pdf. Online access is available during the exam. But, we recommend printing out the useful WIPO overviews yourself because they are not directly available during the exam.
Part (1): Overviews (online)
- Treaty memberships
- PCT membership
- Paris-only states
- Types of Protection
- Regional Patents via PCT
- Restoration of Priority
- PoA Waivers
- Access to IPER
- Legal reservations
- Nat. Entry deadlines
- Direct filing with IB
- PCT Fees 2022 with Competent ISA's
- 90% fee reduction
- 75% Fee Reduction at EPO
- PCT Applicant & Office forms
- DAS (Digital Access Service)
- Global PPH & PCT-PPH
- ST.26 FAQ's
- Filing A.19 & A.34 amendments
- International exhibitions - OJ 2022, A50
- National security restrictions
- ISA & IPEA Agreements
Part (2): Intro and All Annexes (online)
- Book store pages include detailed content lists
- Thin 50g "bible" paper is used to reduce thickness & weight. Contents are B/W. Printer is Pumbo.
Order 16x23cm books (Eng):
- | Retired - PCT AG available digitally during exams. See links above for useful overviews to print yourself | EQE23 |
Free download (Eng):
- | Retired - PCT AG available digitally during exams. See links above for useful overviews to print yourself. | EQE23 |