Our patent office, yesterday, notified the dates for the upcoming patent agent examination. The next qualifying examination for patent agents will be held on 4th and and 5th May 2013 at Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and Nagpur.
Based on the DIPP notification issued after the cases of Anvita Singh (discussed here), and Renu Rampal (discussed here), the weightage for viva is 25% of the weightage given to the written examination.
Our patent office has also clearly described the pattern of the upcoming examination.
Paper – I will consist of two parts, A and B. Part A will again consist of two parts, A1 and A2 and all questions will be compulsory. Part A1, (30 marks), will have 15 multiple choice questions of two marks each. Each question will have a up to a maximum of six choices and a maximum of two correct choices. Part A2, (10 marks), will have 10 true / false type questions of one mark each. Part B will consist of 8 subjective type questions and the candidates will be required to attempt any 6 out of the 8 questions.
Because of the nature of Paper I, we suggest that candidates study the black letter law – (act and rules) thoroughly.
Paper – II will also consist of two parts, A and B. Part-A (of 40 marks), will consist of 6 questions of 10 marks each and the candidate will be required to attempt any 4 questions. The questions will relate
to drafting and interpretation of patent specifications and other documents required to be submitted under the Act and Rules. Part-B, (of 60 marks), will consist of parts B1 and B2. B1 will be compulsory and will consist of 1 question relating to drafting of claims and abstract from a given description of an invention.
Part B2 will consist of 2 questions and the candidates will be required to attempt any 1 question. Out of the two questions, one question will relate to general engineering and the other question will relate to field of chemistry/life sciences.
For Paper -II we suggest that all candidates look at existing granted patents, office action, file history etc. available from the patent office website.
For viva-voce, we suggest that candidates brush up on their own domain knowledge – For example – if someone is from the chemistry background – they should be able to answer basic questions from the chemistry domain. For candidates, who are from B.Sc. Mathematics background – they should be able to answer questions related to the use of mathematics in patents, and so on.
Candidates who wish to apply for the examination may visit the patent office website between 11
th February 2013and 11th March 2013 and apply online. Candidates will be required to enter the details into the online system and take a printout of the application form. The application form along with the
necessary enclosures and examination fee should reach the patent office (CG Office ; Mumbai) on or before 25 March 2013.
For further information, candidates may send queries to patentagentexam[dot]ipo[at]nic[dot]in
Last year, I had created an invitation only website for helping candidates prepare for the Paper II of the patent agent examination. I am making that site accessible to all those who want to access it. We at Spicyip, wish all candidates the best of luck in the preparation of, and taking the upcoming examination.
There appears to be some confusion about weightage of viva. AS per amended rules the candidate will be declared to have passed if he secures minimum 50% in written examination and aggregate 60% i.e 150 out of 250. There is no mention of minimum weightage for viva. Hence in my opinion, if a candidate gets aggregate 60% i.e. 150 out of total 250 even only in both written and secures no marks in viva he/she should be declared pass. However the candidate’s appearance at viva is compulsory.
Experts may correct if my perception is wrong.
Hi team SpicyIP,
At last now we have the notification for Patent Agent exam almost after two and half year.
I would like you to draw attention of blog followers and CGPDTM about the Trademark Agent Exam, the last Exam was held in 2010 almost three years back. Thereafter, there was no public notice or information about the next exam. Though, for Patent Agent Exam the main hindrance was the amendment in rules, but for Trademark agent Exam I do not see any issue.
I understand there is a shortage of quality Patent Agents in India, but you would realize that there is a acute shortage of specialize Trademark Agent/Attorneys. The ratio of Trademark Application to specialize attorney is very high. And the quantum of trademark applications filed by Indian residents are much higher than the Patent applications.
Though the Advocates and Company Secretaries are exempted from appearing TM agent exam and can become TM agent merely by filing their first TM application. But most of them are preoccupied in their profession and apart from filing a Trademark application they are not aware of other procedures and formalities (Trademark has more legal formalities than Patents) and many times due to their ignorance brand owner suffers.
Further, India soon will become a member of Madrid protocol under which Indian Applicants may file International Applicants for which well qualified specialize TM professional would be required in large number.
I hope your team could amplify this issue further.
-PatenTM
Dear Team,
I hold a B.A.LL.B (Hons.) with double majors in International Trade Law and Intellectual Property Law and LL.M in Intellectual Property Law. I am very keen on appearing for the Patent Agent Examination but am worried that I may not be eligible for the exam as I dont have a degree in science,engineering or technology. Will my Master degree help? Request you to kindly advise me on the same. Thank you in advance for all the help.
Sorry you cannot appear for the exam as a degree in science and engineering is must and your master degree in non science stream would be of no help.
Hi,
Thank you for the information.I had a query. Can we choose the center as per our wish or is it dependent of domicile? Kindly clarify.
Hi everybody!
I wish to appear in the Patent Agent exam and in connection with this i have the following queries-
1) The page that comes by clicking on the Guidelines link provided in the Patent Agent Examination log in page is a blank one and as such, no information is available as to how to apply. Is this information available anywhere else?
2) My Passport validity expired in the year 2011. Can it still be used as a proof of citizenship? if no then can driving license be acceptable for this purpose? I have no Voter card. Can i submit certificate of nationality from any Gazetted Officer for this purpose if both of the above options are not acceptable?
3) What is the format of Character Certificate ?
4) Do i need to submit self attested or Gazetted Officer attested certificates?
Please help me so that i can apply for the exam on time.
Hi Bhaskar Rai,
1. Click save as pdf on the guidelines page and open the downloaded file in pdf reader. It worked for me.
2. I believe you can use your Passport copy since you its just a formality for address proof and not a requirement to have valid passport. or better still use your DL
3. Just a few lines that “I certify so and so and he is known to me from so and so years and he bears good character” is enough.
4. Must get the character certificate from a gazetted officer. Rest documents need not be signed by gazetted officer.
Reply to the previous query: One can choose the centre of their choice- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. It does not depend ondomicile.
Can we use PAN card or DL as Address prof. It will affect our application as they have not mentioned about these documents to be used as address prof.
Addressing PatenTM
I am LLB Graduate from hyderabad and keen on writing Trademark Agent Exam. I have not done a course from the Company Secretaries. However i would still appear to write the exam. I was told the exam is quite difficult and the ratio of Trademark Agents is quite less. Please shed some light on this.
Sir,
I want o join your blog. My email id is [email protected] I am not able to find the link. I am also preparing for patent agent exam. I have gone through your website for paper 2 its really useful. Please send me the details how can i submit my assignments to ou.
result kab tak aayega?
Dear Mr Rajiv,
I missed answering the exam this year May 2013 because of unforeseeable circumstances.
would you happen to know if the office will conduct another exam this year , since the last exam was after 2.5 years??
Thanks and eager waiting.