The European Patent Institute
epi Artists Exhibition 2012 more
The Institute of Professional Representatives before the European
Patent Office („
epi“) came into existence pursuant to the European
Patent Convention (EPC) upon provisions adopted by the Administrative
Council of the European Patent Organization. These provisions also
pertain to the European qualifying examination, which persons have to
take in order to be entitled to act as representatives, and to the
disciplinary powers exercised by the Institute over these
representatives. The Institute being an international non-governmental
public law corporation has its own by-laws and code of professional
conduct. At present, the Institute which represents the first
all-European patent profession comprises about 10,000 members
from 38 European countries, both from industry and free
profession.
