http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/03/breaking-eqe-and-pre-eqe-postponed.html
Candidates for the European Qualifying Exam (EQE) and pre-examination awoke this morning to the news that the exams were cancelled. The exams were due to be held 16-19th March. Trainee patent attorneys across Europe have been preparing for the exams for months. Trainees are required to pass the exams in order to become European Qualified Attorneys. Postponement of the exam will hold back many in the profession who hoped to qualify this year.
| Months of preparation… |
Rumours began circling on social media that the exams would be cancelled late last night. These rumours were partly sparked by EPO’s statement on COVID-19, published online. The following message was sent to candidates this morning.
“Dear Candidate
In response to the latest developments about the spread of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), the Supervisory Board of the European qualifying examination has decided in line with the EPO’s precautionary measures to cancel the EQE planned to take place 16-19 March 2020.
The Supervisory Board is currently assessing the feasibility of organising the examination at a later stage in the current year. We would kindly ask for your understanding that due to the complex logistic arrangements related to the organisation of the EQE, this assessment will require some time. The Examination Secretariat will revert back to you as soon as there is a decision taken by the Supervisory Board. Also please understand that due to the high number of enquires received, answering individual questions will take more time than usual.
We sincerely regret this highly unsatisfactory situation for all concerned. Further information will follow in due course, in particular related to the reimbursement of fees“.
Preparing for the pre-exam and EQEs is not a trivial matter. The pre-exam and Paper D in particular require candidates to have detailed knowledge of a mountain of European patent law at their finger-tips. If the exams are to be rearranged for later this year, candidates must be given appropriate time to prepare. The exams would also have to be arranged so as not to conflict with national qualifying exams. The UK exams, for example, take place in autumn.
IPKat understands today’s announcement from the EPO will have caused distress to candidates. We are awaiting a statement from CIPA and further news from the EPO.
UPDATE: CIPA has issued an online statement.
Content reproduced from The IPKat as permitted under the Creative Commons Licence (UK).