The PCT & UP Handbook is an exam-oriented reference that covers relevant legal aspects of the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the Unitary Patent system 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. Chapters 1-4 establish the procedural backbone of the PCT: time-limit calculations, legal remedies, fees, and representation. Chapters 5-7 move on to priority, international filing and examination, while Chapter 8 guides candidates through national and regional phase entry and requirements. Chapter 9 rounds off the PCT section with a comprehensive table of all member states and their AG Annexes. Chapter 10 then turns to the Unitary Patent system-outlining the UP, UPC, UPPD and national measures. It sets out legal remedies and fees, lists the conditions for requesting unitary effect, walks through UPC proceedings and the compensation scheme, and concludes with renewal fees, transfers and licences, publication and file inspection.

 

Essential legal knowledge for PCT and UP – concise, structured, up to date

For candidates preparing for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) or the European Patent Administration Certification (EPAC), mastering the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the Unitary Patent system is crucial. The PCT & UP 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 2 of 2: PCT & UP (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 1–9 (PCT):
  
  • Time limits ·
  • Legal remedies
  • Fees
  • Representation
  • Priority
  • Filing & examination
  • National/regional phase ·
  • Tabular overviews
  • Chapter 10 (Unitary Patent & UPC): 
    • UP, UPC, UPPD, national measures
    • Legal remedies
    • Fees
    • Request for unitary effect
    • UP Proceedings
    • Compensation scheme
    • Renewal fees
    • Transfer and licences
    • Publications and file inspection

    For EQE or EPAC candidates, mastering the EPC, the PCT and the UP system is essential to excel in the exams. The PCT & UP Handbook, together with the EPC 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.