EPC Handbook

For candidates preparing for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) or the European Patent Administration Certification (EPAC), mastering the European Patent Convention is crucial. The EPC Handbook offers a clear, exam-focused presentation of the relevant legal framework - ideal for targeted preparation and quick reference during the exam. Based on the well-established D-I Guide - Part 1 of 2: EPC (2024) by Ignacio Lobato, this book is now published as a standalone volume in the Heymanns IP series "Heymanns Intellectual Property".
Key benefits:
- Concise and exam-oriented: Bullet-point summaries instead of lengthy commentary - directly applicable in exam scenarios. - Colour-coded structure: Legal bases, time limits, and cross-references are intuitively highlighted for faster navigation. - Up to date: Reflects all legal changes up to November 2025 and fully aligned with the EQE 2026 and EPAC. Aligns with the new eEQE and EPAC formats. - Practice-focused: Includes tables, examples, and overviews on fees, priority, national phase requirements, and more.
Chapter overview:
Chapters 1-10: - Time limits · - Legal remedies - Fees - Prior art & patentability - Communications & decisions - Right to patent - Rights conferred by application/patent - Amendments - Languages - Representation
Chapter 11-14 - Priority - Filling - Search & examination - Validation
Chapter 15-18 - Opposition - Appeal - Petition for review - Limitation/revocation
For EQE or EPAC candidates, mastering the EPC, the PCT and the UP system is essential to excel in the exams. The EPC Handbook, together with the PCT & UP Handbook, condenses legal texts, case law, and procedural frameworks into an exam-ready, quick reference that turns anxiety into certainty on every legal question.