WIPO International Patent Drafting Training Program
Transforming inventions into well-crafted patent applications requires a combination of knowledge and skills that can only be acquired through a comprehensive hands-on experience. Learning from experienced practitioners, this course will enhance your patent drafting skills and secure the best available protection for your or your client´s inventions. The program has been developed by WIPO in cooperation with the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI).
Eligibility
Applicants must have:
- Bachelor’s level degree in law, and/ or in science and technology such as engineering, agriculture, environmental, information technology/ ICT, life sciences, medicine, physics, chemistry, communication sciences, biology, or biotechnology.
OR At least 1 year of professional/ work or research experience in patent drafting or patent prosecution; and - General knowledge of IP and patents, at least equivalent to the WIPO Academy Distance Learning course DL301 - Advanced Course on Patents; and
- Proficiency in written and spoken English;
- Completed your bachelor’s degree or higher in English, or
- Scored TOEFL iBT 80/120 or IELTS 6.5/9 in the last three (3) years.
How to Apply
Applicants will be required to submit an online application with supporting documents. WIPO will assess applications on a rolling basis and select a limited number of eligible candidates for the training program.
A limited number of scholarships are available for applicants from least developed countries, developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
Program Description
This training program is ideal for those with professional or commercial interest in patents, and who are looking to enhance their patent drafting skills across different technical fields. Designed as practice-oriented training, inventors and those providing services to them can acquire technical skills and knowledge necessary to prepare and file successful patent applications, including the capacity to draft all-important claims that determine the scope and coverage of the protection to be granted by a patent.
This program, offered in English, will utilize state of the art WIPO e-learning tools, while also giving unparalleled access to highly qualified patent drafting experts from across the globe both virtually, through the use of theme-based discussion forums and individual feedback and mentoring, and face-to-face, through a workshop conducted at the WIPO Headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland).
This Training Program offers
- Hands-on experiential learning delivered by globally recognized instructors where practical exercises and personal feedback are the main learning instruments.
- A curriculum specifically designed for exposure to international patent practice, to give participants an edge when transforming ideas into solid global patent portfolios.
- An opportunity to build an international network of peers and mentors encounter engaged in patent drafting across the world.
What You Will Learn
- Claim drafting techniques and methodologies
- Specification drafting - description, summary, background/ abstract for inventions
- Analysis of inventions
- Strategic filing decisions
Who Should Apply
- Patent agents and patent agent candidates;
- Staff of technology transfer offices at universities and public research centers or WIPO Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISCs);
- Others regularly involved in supporting inventors to obtain patents, who wish to further improve their skills on patent drafting;
- Innovators, researchers, and members of the public wishing to enhance skills on patent drafting.
Registration fees
A fee of USD ($) 1000 is payable upon notification of acceptance. Discounted rates apply for the following categories of participants:
| Developed Countries | Developing Countries & Economies in Transition | Least Developed Countries | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionals and Non-Students | USD 1000 standard fee |
USD 400 60% discount |
USD 200 80% discount |
| Students | USD 800 20% discount |
USD 400 60% discount |
USD 200 80% discount |
(Note: This fee does not cover costs associated with travel, transport and lodging for Phase II: Geneva Workshop.)
Phase 1:
DRAFTING BASICS
- Fundamentals of drafting claims and the specification.
- Tutor-led study of online modules
- Fundamentals of Patent Drafting
- Parts of a Patent Application
- Relevance of Claim Drafting: Types of claims
- Designing claims
- Drafting a Description
- Performing Drawings
- Complete practical exercises and gain confidence to assess the background and description of inventions, and formulate credible sets of claims and specification.
Phase 2:
GENEVA WORKSHOP
- Workshop with highly qualified patent experts, hosted in WIPO Headquarters, Geneva.
- Topics will cover:
- Fundamentals of Patent Law and Specification Structure
- Making the Most Out of the Inventor Interview
- An Expert Approach to Claim Drafting – Functional Analysis
- Strategic Drafting in Specific Technology Areas
- Drafting for Different Jurisdictions
- Thinking Ahead: Drafting Enforceable Claims
- Combine patent drafting theory and practice to develop skills in drafting patent claims and specifications, covering a comprehensive scope of protection.
Phase 3:
MENTORING
- Follow-up mentoring focused on reinforcing the skills acquired in Phases 1 and 2 of the course.
- Advanced patent drafting exercises and discussions designed to address drafting skills in the participants´ fields of technical expertise.
-
Expert-guided practical exercises and discussions will cover:
- Claim Drafting in View of Prior Art
- Amending Claims and Draft Specification
- Claim Drafting for Chemistry/ Biology
- Claim Drafting for Electronics/ Mechanics
- Opportunity to directly interact and seek hands-on advice from instructors.
