38 students from 30 different countries (with the majority from developing countries) attended. Their professional backgrounds included tech transfer offices, IP Administrations, law firms, industry and innovators.
The purpose of the course is to create and reinforce patent drafting skills in countries and regions where such skills are insufficiently established. The course includes a final exam and successful participants are granted a certificate of successful completion co-signed by the WIPO and FICPI Academies.
This was another special occasion for FICPI to become better known in countries where there is little or no FICPI membership. FICPI brochures were delivered and Eric Le Forestier, President of the FICPI Academy, gave a speech explaining the roles of FICPI and the advantages of becoming a member.
After three years of this unique public/private cooperation in the area of patent training, FICPI and WIPO will now sit around the table to discuss how to further improve the operation of the course and strengthen their cooperation.
The WIPO - FICPI International Patent Drafting Training Programme first launched in 2022.
Next steps
Countries can choose to recognise the International Patent Drafting Training Programme, as part of their own training programme for drafting professionals through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Through an MOU, the WIPO Certificate may:
- Be a prerequisite for becoming a national patent agent/professional
- Provide a number of credits required to become a national patent agent/professional
- Be an obligatory educational programme for national patent agents/professionals
- Provide a number of credits required within an obligatory educational programme for national patent agents/professionals
- Provide a professional title that recognises the expertise in patent drafting.
If you are interested in learning more about the FICPI Patent Drafting courses, or wish to participate in a future course, please visit https://ficpi.org/organisation/committees/ficpi-academy
For information on the International Patent Drafting Training Programme, visit: https://welc.wipo.int/ipdtp/
How FICPI makes IP attorneys more effective
FICPI’s dual focus on legal and professional excellence is demonstrated through its training sessions, its Professional Excellence Committee, The FICPI Academy, and the Study & Work Committee and its seven sub-groups including CET 3 which focuses on International Patent Matters, and CET 4 which focuses on European Patents.
In-person training courses such as the International Patent Drafting Programme not only offer opportunities to learn but also to build connections with other independent IP attorneys or more generally among a variety of IP stakeholders around the world, through common interests and concerns.
Image: Courtesy of WIPO