EPC Handbook

Essential legal knowledge for EPC – concise, structured, up to date

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.