The Dutch exam for Formalities Officers is held each year. DeltaPatents offers a full training program in preparation of this exam, focussing on providing the desired knowledge and competences to the participants. The training contains 4 modules: General Aspects Patents + Core EPC Procedures, PTC Procedures + Foreign Systems, NL Patent Procedure + Changes of Ownership and Trademarks & Designs. A 1-day Exam training is optional.

In this module participants will obtain knowledge of ‘overall issues’ like the priority concept, patenting routes and systems and inventor-/ownership. After attending this module the participant will be able to file a (priority) application and a European patent application (fax and electronic filing), invoke priority and deal with the most occurring issues for getting a filing date, and dealing with the formalities examination. Participants will have a good insight in time limits, remedies (like further processing) and fee payments and will be able to put the knowledge into practice. The UPC procedure will also be part of this module.

Furthermore the participant will have knowledge of the EPC procedure from search to examination as well as of the validation procedure including translations according to the London Agreement. The participant will also be able to carry out and monitor the main procedural steps during all these phases.

By the end of this module, the participant will be able to file a PCT application using the RO/101 form (fax and electronic filing), invoke priority, deal with the most frequently occurring issues for getting a filing date, and deal with both formality and prosecution tasks during the rest of the international phase, EP regional entry and national entry in the US, China, India and Japan. Participants will have a good insight in time limits, remedies and fee payments and will be able to put the knowledge into practice.

Furthermore the participant will be able to perform and monitor the main procedural steps during all these phases.

The participant will also gain insight in what he/she might encounter during the different national phases like requesting examination, filing of assignment, Power of Attorney, IDS, payment of issue fees, renewal fees, etc.

At the end of this module the participant will be able to file a NL application (fax and electronic filing), invoke priority and deal with the most occurring issues for getting a filing date, deal with the formalities as well as the prosecution of the application. The participant will be able to validate the EP patent in the Netherlands and will obtain basic knowledge on the procedure for obtaining a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC).

Participants will get a good insight in time limits, remedies and fee payments and will be able to put the knowledge into practice.

Furthermore the participant will be able to perform and monitor the main procedural steps during these phases.

Regarding the topic ‘change of ownership’ attendants will get an understanding of IP rights as property, will be able to establish inventorship and ownership, and will learn what documents are required by the NL Patent Office, EPO and WIPO for registration of a change.

The participant will be able to record a change of name or ownership during the PCT International Phase, at the NL Patent Office and at the EPO. Furthermore the participant will learn how to deal with legalisation and notarisation of documents.

This module covers the trademark and design procedures, copyright and domain names. By the end of this session participants will understand the differences between trademarks, designs, domain names and copyright and the different way of thinking compared to patent law. For, different than in patent law, having a trademark and/or design registration does not necessarily mean that rights have been acquired or will remain valid during the registration period. Consequently, participants will acquire knowledge about the filing requirements and understanding of the registration procedure for the Benelux, European and International procedures. Lastly, participants will have an insight in the different filing routes.

After having followed the 4 modules of the FO Training for the Dutch Formalities Exam, this course day offers candidates who will sit the exam, tips and guidance on how to tackle it. During this course day information about the exam is offered and questions and cases from previous exams will be used for practicing during the day.