EPC Handbook

A structured guide and reference book for EQE and EPAC

For candidates preparing for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) or the European Patent Administration Certification (EPAC), mastering the European Patent Convention (EPC) is essential. Success in the legal parts of the exam requires not only knowing the legal texts, but also being able to identify the relevant rule quickly, understand the procedural consequences and apply the correct remedy under time pressure.

The EPC Handbook provides a clear, structured and exam-oriented presentation of the EPC legal framework. It is designed as a practical working tool for systematic study, targeted revision and fast consultation during the exam. The second edition has been comprehensively revised, expanded and reorganised to improve clarity, usability and learning flow. The book brings together EPC legal provisions, procedural mechanisms, relevant case law, EPO practice, fee rules, time-limit calculations and typical exam constellations in a concise bullet-point format. It is particularly useful for candidates preparing for the legal components of the modular EQE, including Modules F, M2 and M4, as well as for EPAC candidates who need a reliable and accessible legal reference.

The Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office, April 2026 edition, are fully incorporated throughout the EPC Handbook. As a result, the book does not merely summarise the EPC, but also reflects how the EPO applies the law in practice and how legal issues are typically tested in the exam.

Key benefits

• Concise and exam-oriented: The content is presented in short, focused bullet points instead of lengthy commentary. The aim is to help candidates understand, remember and apply the decisive legal points quickly.
• Structured for exam use: The handbook is built around recurring EQE issues, past-paper patterns and typical candidate difficulties. It helps candidates recognise legal situations, identify the correct legal basis and formulate answers efficiently.
• Colour-coded for fast navigation: Legal bases, time limits, examples and cross-references are visually highlighted, making the book suitable for quick orientation during preparation and under exam conditions.
• Practice-focused and procedural: The book includes examples, tables, overviews, fee information, time-limit calculations and structured explanations covering the full EPC procedure, from filing, search and examination to validation, opposition, appeal, petition for review, limitation and revocation.
• Up to date for EQE 2027 and EPAC: The content reflects the relevant EPC legal and procedural framework for candidates preparing under the new exam formats.

Together with the PCT & UP Handbook, the EPC Handbook provides candidates with a comprehensive and exam-ready legal reference for EPC, PCT and Unitary Patent law. The two volumes are designed to turn complex procedural law into a structured, accessible and reliable tool for exam preparation and quick consultation.

Author

Ignacio Lobato is a German and European Patent Attorney and UPC representative based in Munich. He is Swiss and Spanish, studied Mechanical Engineering at ETH Zurich and began his professional career in the automotive sector, where he worked in simulation before moving into patent practice. Since 2022, he has tutored the annual M2 study group at Fillun. His teaching and writing focus on making complex EPC, PCT and Unitary Patent law accessible, structured and directly applicable for exam candidates.