training/education (summary)


	Under its Statutes an aim of FICPI is: "To promote the training and continuing education of its members and others interested in intellectual property protection by organising local and regional ad-hoc programs."
	The Training and Education Commission of FICPI manages its training and educational programs as well as the working programme for the open fora.
	Officers of the Commission are:
	President: Francis Ahner (France) Vice President: Axel von Hellfeld (Germany) Members of the Commission: to be advised
	Within the Commission, there is the FICPI Academy of Education:
	Chairman: Francis Ahner (France) Vice Chair: Axel von Hellfeld (Germany) Fellows: Leon Allen (Australia) David Carmichael (Australia) Geoffrey DeKleine (Canada) Dennis Drehkoff (USA) Robert Hirons (Canada) Joseph Kolasch (USA) Peter Kolker (United Kingdom) Eric Le Forestier (France) Shoichi Okuyama (Japan) John Orange (Canada) Karl Rackette (Germany) Judge Randall Rader (USA) Simon Roberts (United Kingdom) The Academy manages the South East Asian Drafting Course (SEAD). This project developed out of the perceived need for better training in intellectual property in developing countries. (The Academy also manages the Euro-SEAD, the equivalent course run in Europe - details below). The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade has emphasised the importance of free trade and the importance of Intellectual Property in that trade. Under the TRIPS agreement, member countries are required to provide appropriate systems for the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. For the efficient operation of those intellectual property systems internationally, it is necessary that there be in each country a body of well qualified patent attorneys able to assist applicants and patentees, and industry in general, in obtaining, defending and advising on intellectual property rights in that country and to advise residents in that country in relation to rights in other countries. WIPO, IP Australia and others have been actively involved in educational projects and training in developing countries and this has been of great assistance in the establishment of intellectual property systems. A patent system depends entirely upon the patent specification. Whether it be a registration system or a full examination system, there is nevertheless the need for a patent specification to form the basis of the grant. Unless this is drafted well, rights might be lost. In developed countries, the art of drafting patent specifications is generally passed down from generation to generation by the experienced patent attorneys supervising the drafting work of trainees who ultimately become proficient. Formal education can only take that skill part of the way. There is a trend for professionals in developing countries to brief professionals in developed countries to draft patent specifications for their clients. It is believed this is only a short term measure and generally unsatisfactory. Recognising this problem and with the knowledge that its membership had the necessary expertise required by the developing countries, FICPI offered its assistance in training.

	The SEAD project
	The SEAD project was developed in the belief that training is better if it takes place over a period of time, which is what happens with "on the job training". The course is structured in three segments. The first segment is comprised by a week-long session of workshops and tutorials specifically relating to drafting. The second segment is undertaken over a period of six months by students completing exercises that are assessed and reported on by the tutors. The third segment is a further week-long series of tutorials and workshops. This means that all students must attend, over two separate weeks, at a central location and undertake a correspondence segment between times. Courses have been conducted every year since 1997 and the next course will start on 31 March 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. Intake is limited to 30 students. Course details and application form - see below.

	Course material
	Comprehensive lecture notes and exercises for the workshops have been compiled and are available to assist tutors in further Academy courses. This material is not available generally.

	The 2008 Course

	SEAD Training Course 2008/HTML format SEAD Training Course 2008/PDF format Application Form/HTML format Application Form/PDF format

	EURO-SEAD
	A further course based on the successful SEAD program commenced in Europe in 1999. The course was located in Ottrott-Le-Haut near Strasbourg and was attended by 19 students from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Romania, Spain and Sweden. The EUROSEAD 2000 course was held in Budapest and 24 students completed the course. EUROSEAD 2001/02 took place in Palermo and EUROSEAD 2003 was held at Tallinn, Estonia. EUROSEAD 2004 was held at Starnberger See in Germany. The first session of the EUROSEAD course 2007 will be held in Warsaw, Poland, October 29 to November 2, 2007.
	EURO-SEAD Training Course 2007 Application Form

	OTHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION COMMISSION ACTIVITIES

	Student Exchange The Training & Education Commission also arranges a Student Exchange Program under which students are able to undertake in-house training in a firm of a patent attorney in another country. A number of students have availed themselves of this program. Student Exchange Program Application Form for Student Application Form for Firm A number of students have benefited from the Student Exchange Program. Patent attorney firms are urged to indicate their willingness to accept an exchange student. Generally, students have successfully completed an Academy course and are therefore of a reasonably proficient standard. It is generally found that a strong bond develops between the firm and the student which benefits both in the future.

	Open Fora
	For many years, FICPI has held Open Fora. Generally, these popular events are held in October or November of years in which FICPI is not holding a Congress. Thus, fora have been held in: 1993 Rome 1995 Lisbon 1996 Barcelona 1998 Florence 1999 Monte Carlo 2001 Rome 2002 Prague 2004 Venice 2005 Lisbon 2007 Seville 2008 Florence As the World Congress took place in 2006, no Open Forum was held. Fora are always held in the years between congresses. The Forum is open to all persons interested. It is not necessary to be a member of FICPI. All practitioners are welcome and particularly representatives of industry. The working programme takes place over two days. There may be one or more plenary sessions but largely the Forum is split into three streams to ensure that topics of interest to all practitioners are available at any time. There are streams concentrating on patent issues, trade mark issues and general issues. Largely, the topics concentrate on matters of current practical interest. They are not intended to develop future policy which are matters to be addressed at a World Congress. The Open Fora are exceptionally well attended by a wide range of people from a large number of countries and, in particular, Europe, United States and Japan. Responses show delegates appreciate the programme and, in FICPI tradition, nearly all delegates take advantage of the entire working programme. Opportunity for delegates to raise questions and to enter into debate is written into the programme and interventions are encouraged. Thus, delegates are able to become involved in the debate. Attendance is not intended to be passive. Moderators and presenters are selected from a range of countries and include senior officials and practitioners, both from industry and private practice, having special expertise in the topics in question. Papers are made available so that delegates who choose to attend one of the optional topics are able to read the presentations made in the alternative topics. The next Open Forum, the eleventh, will take place in Florence, Italy, in October 2008.
	Last updated: December 17, 2007