Online Courses – Free – Self-paced
Free EPO Online Courses on Intellectual Property Now Available
The European Patent Office (EPO), in collaboration with the EIT Higher Education Initiative, is offering a range of free online self-paced courses on Intellectual Property (IP).
These courses are open to the wider academic and innovation community, including researchers, students, innovation support staff, technology transfer professionals, entrepreneurs and start-ups. Participants can complete the courses at their own pace and will receive a certificate of completion upon successfully finishing each course.
Available courses
Using CPC in Classification
Duration: 16 hours
This self-paced course offers an overview of the CPC classification system, from the basics to the CPC definition documents.
Searching Prior Art Based on Patent Applications
Duration: 15 hours
This course offers a practical guide towards systematic patent search, from the process of analysing the patent application to carrying out a sufficiently complete and efficient search and deciding when to stop the search.
Search Reports and Written Opinions
Duration: 6 hours
This course is all about understanding and interpreting the information contained in search reports and written opinions. The emphasis is on practical examples and exercises.
Introduction to the European Patent System
Duration: 8 hours
This self-paced course offers a basic introduction to the most important legal and procedural aspects of patents and the European patent system.
The Patent Process at the EPO
Duration: 7 hours
When deciding whether to grant a patent or refuse an application, the EPO examines whether an application meets the requirements of the European Patent Convention (EPC). This course provides an overview of the patent process at the EPO, including related formalities, structure and the role of the Boards of Appeal.
Patentability Requirements at the EPO
Duration: 15 hours
This self-paced course explains the criteria for patentability relating to both the invention and the patent application, according to the European Patent Convention (EPC).
IP Management: Evaluation and Protection
Duration: 9 hours
IP protection is essential, but it comes at a cost. This course introduces methods for evaluating which technologies to pursue and which intellectual property assets to create.
We encourage everyone interested in strengthening their knowledge of intellectual property and innovation to take advantage of these learning opportunities.