1. Jean-Michel Zilliox Director IP Practice European Patent Academy
IV UAIPIT INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS "IP& IT Conflict Resolution in a Networked World" IP TRAINING IN A NETWORKED WORLD: THE EUROPEAN PATENT ACADEMY
Jean-Michel Zilliox
Director IP Practice
European Patent Academy
30 November 2012

2. The Academy of the European Patent Organisation
The EPO: "Europe's Patent Granting Authority"
- 38 MS staff applications in 2012
Mission of the Academy of the EPO :
Promoting and supporting education and training in patent-related Intellectual Property (IP)
Objectives : → support Europe’s innovation capacity
Foster development and harmonisation of IP training
Improve expertise and skills of the patent system users
Promote equal access to training opportunities in all MS

3. Professional Representatives = “European Patent Attorneys”
Promote and support:
Preparation of candidates for the European Qualifying Examination
Vocational training for professional representatives before the EPO
Develop the European Network of EQE tutors & Lecturers
Training scheme for Paralegals (legal assistants to attorneys)
co-operation for several reasons:

4. Academia = Graduates & Post-graduates
Promote and support patent-related IP education and training within European universities
Bring IP teaching beyond law faculties
More specifically:
Increase the awareness of IP as a BUSINESS ASSETT
Learn graduates to ACCESS and USE IP Information
Support the introduction of IP content in university curricula
Strengthen the role of the Technology Transfer Offices (TTO)

5. Innovation Support and IP management = Small & Medium Size Companies
Objective:
Support innovation in Europe by promoting and participating in education and training projects designed for industry and patent system users in the areas of:
- Access to and use of IP Information
- Creation and management of Intellectual property (IP Portfolio)
- Promote Intellectual Property Strategy as a business asset
- Evaluation and Valuation of Intellectual Property
Keywords: Making business with IP – Financing Innovation

6. Judicial training = National IP Judges & IP Prosecutors
Support & develop training initiatives aimed at harmonising patent enforcement and litigation practice in Europe
Establish minimum standards in IP litigation and enforcement amongst judiciary in EPC contracting states
Contribute to the preparation and set up of the Unified Patent Court (for the Community Patent)

7. Institutional Strengthening = National Patent Offices
NPOs of the EPC contracting states :
- Building the European Patent Network
- Strengthen the Interoperability between the EPO and the NPOs
- Transfer of the Expertise and Knowhow from EPO to NPOs and between the NPOs (Best Practice exchanges)
NPOs of third countries
- Build global partnership : IP 5 “EPO, JPO, KPO, SIPO,USPTO”
- Develop common tools (CPC) and approach (Common training)
- Export in third countries the European IP standards

8. IP training in a networked world : Challenges
Geographical spread of target
Europe (38) - Worldwide (ca. 50)
Limited availability (IP not top priority)
Language diversity
Time & Costs for classroom training
Centralised access to global information.
Increased reach (equal access) and effectiveness of training offers
Increased accessibility of key events.
EPN-wide interchange of best practices and training materials.
Global information
Effectiveness
Key events
Interchange

9. Centralised access to global IP Training information
Example: IP Cal
Centralised access to IP-related events and trainings.
ALL EPO and third-party training events are listed (weekly updates)
Front- and backend constantly improved (ongoing audit).
A project designed and implemented in partnership with UAIPIT
Global information
Effectiveness
Key events
Interchange

10. Centralised access to global information
IPCal: Search interface
Global information
Effectiveness
Key events
Interchange

11. Increased reach and effectiveness of training offers
e-learning courses for NPO
More than 80 modules (50 accessible to public)
Formats:
Blended Courses
e-learning modules
virtual classroom sessions
podcasts
smartphone apps, etc.)
In 2012, more than 140 Virtual Classroom sessions have been hosted by the European Patent Academy.
Global information
Effectiveness
Key events
Interchange
Legal basis for novelty examination
12/01/2019
11/19

12. Increased accessibility of key events
Structured and quick access to all contents of the event.
Global information
Effectiveness
Key events
Interchange
Legal basis for novelty examination

13. How is it possible ? Technology has matured & evolved:
evolution of LMSs (Learning Management System) software
open source (Blackboard & Moodle) vs
proprietary systems
improvements in online video
Captioning & sub-titling
Live Streaming
interactive web applications
Internet Accessibility:
proliferation to high-speed internet
availability of widespread mobile in internet access
advances in devices (smart phones & tablet PC market)
This has only been possible with advances in technology, like how Learning Management Systems are now more user friendly. The fact that there are now multiple open source and commercial products on the market.
Video has taken a steps forward in recent years, videos can have live streamed across the glove and sub titles can make videos more accessible.
With the advances on the web, real interactive applications are now possible , and all of these can be now for the first time really platform independent
Just a quick word on accessibility to the internet, which goes hand in hand with the technology. The availability of high-speed internet has made the seamless downloading of videos possible, even 4-5 years ago this was really a blocking point. With smart phones & tablet PCs now out selling notebooks & desktops the web is truly becoming available where ever you are.

14. example : EQE Training http://www.eqe-online.org/
The European Patent Academy offers
dedicated website
120,000 visits / year
750,000 pages / year
support forum
over 7,000 members
over 13,000 posts
The European Patent Academy offers
dedicated website
120,000 visits / year
750,000 pages / year
support forum
over 7,000 members
over 13,000 posts
training
over 1,000 s per day
The European Patent Academy offers
dedicated website
120,000 visits / year
750,000 pages / year
The European Patent Academy offers
dedicated website
120,000 visits / year
750,000 pages / year
support forum
over 7,000 members
over 13,000 posts
training
over 1,000 s per day
wiki
over 100 user editable pages
LMS
material delivery
The European Patent Academy offers
dedicated website
120,000 visits / year
750,000 pages / year
support forum
over 7,000 members
over 13,000 posts
training
over 1,000 s per day
wiki
over 100 user editable pages

15. QUESTION : ?
Thank you for your attention
contact
website