The EPC Handbook is an exam-oriented reference that covers relevant legal aspects of the European Patent Convention in
a single, streamlined volume. Colour-coded references, deadline calculators, and concise bullet-point commentary turn legal
provisions, case law developments and procedural rules into an exam-ready, quick reference designed to help candidates
excel in the EQE legal papers and in the EPAC examination. Fully aligned with the new eEQE and EPAC formats, the handbook
incorporates all legislative amendments and decisions up to November 2025, making it perfectly tailored to the 2026 examinations. The content flows in the same order in which candidates think during an exam. The opening five chapters set
out the procedural backbone of the EPC-time limit computation, legal remedies, fees, prior art and patentability, communications and decisions. Chapters 6 and 7 analyse entitlement to the patent and the rights conferred.
Amendments and language requirements are addressed in Chapters 8 and 9, followed by a dedicated chapter on representation before the EPO. Priority, filing, search, examination and validation are covered in Chapters 11 to 14, while
the final section (Chapters 15 to 18) guides the candidates through opposition, appeal, petition for review and limitation proceedings.
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.
Edited by:
Ignacio Lobato is Swiss and Spanish and lives in Munich, Germany. He studied Mechanical Engineering at ETH Zurich and spent two years in the simulation department in the automotive sector before moving internally to the patent department. He qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2022 and has since tutored the annual D1 (now F/M2) study group at Fillun. Ignacio is currently finalising his training to become a German Patent Attorney, with qualification expected by the end of 2025.
