how do I become a patent attorney?

 

As a patent attorney you are an independent, legally authorised specialist in the field of patents, trademarks and designs. You advise on the effective protection of knowledge, products and ideas, act on behalf of the client and arrange the procedures to acquire and maintain the required protection.

 

The profession of patent attorney offers a challenge to people who are technically inclined and want to combine this with other disciplines such as law, language & communications. You often do this in an international context. Your contacts are often with companies that develop high quality technology. To become a patent attorney you need at least a university level technical education in subjects such as mechanical engineering, civil engineering, air and space engineering, chemistry, chemical technology, electrical engineering, biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular biology, immunology, veterinary medicine, microbiology, IT, industrial design, structural engineering etc. You get the required training as you work, theoretically in the form of a course arranged by the Stichting Beroepsopleiding Octrooigemachtigden (Foundation for Patent Attorneys' Professional Training). This training ends with an exam. See the exam regulations for the content of the exam. In practice you are trained by working under the supervision of an experienced patent attorney. After successfully completing the training and three years' work experience in the field of patents you can apply to be entered in the Register of Patent Attorneys. You can apply to the director of the Netherlands Patent Office to be registered. In some cases you can request exemption from the Supervisory Council of the Netherlands Institute of Patent Attorneys. Both requests can be made by ordinary letter.  Following this compulsory registration you can practice freely as an independent Dutch patent attorney with a patent agency or with a company.

 

Most Dutch patent attorneys are also a European Patent Attorney. Information about the requirements for European patent attorneys can be found here.

 

This site regularly features vacancies and traineeships for patent attorneys. If you would like to know more about the profession of patent attorney, please contact and request a meeting with an experienced patent attorney.