This English-language book is intended for trainee patent attorneys to prepare and train them
for Paper A (drafting a patent application) of the European qualifying examination (EQE). After
a general introduction in a specific section the procedure to obtain a patent is discussed
followed by systematic approaches to draft a patent application for the EQE with references to
often made mistakes. In the appendices Model Solutions for two past papers in all three formal
languages of the EPO (DE FR EN) are given. From 2025 extensive changes to the current EQE
and the corresponding preparation courses are planned. In 2025 the changes will only affect
the current preliminary examination which will be replaced by a so-called »foundation paper«
while examination papers A B C and D will remain current. These will then be progressively
replaced by new papers (M1 - M4) in 2026 and 2027. The new format of the EQE will have an
impact on the further design or continuation of the ABCD-Books beyond 2025-26.
