What will be the role of Informartion Professionals ? For years the Confederacy of European patent Information User Group has been working on the Certification for Patent Information Professionals. The certification for patent information specialists is an indispensable tool for guaranteeing that the patent searching profession is able to continue meeting the quality standards of the European industry, for providing recognition for people working as patent information specialists and for new entrants in the profession. In this presentation, I will explain what the Certification project is about, I will give a status update and review the plan for the future. As always, the role of Providers in this project is very important to ensure the right organizational support.

1. Certification for Patent Information Professionals
Dania Agnoletto
AIDB (Italian Patent User Group) CEPIUG (Confederacy of European Patent Information User Groups)

2. Who I am
My name is Dania Agnoletto. I’m Italian, and I live in Ferrara.
I'm currently working in the Intellectual Property Dpt. as Patent Information at LyondellBasell. I’m a member of AIDB board.
Before joining this company in 1998, I graduated in physics in 1997 with a thesis relating to the World Wide Web, subsequent to a period of training at CERN in Geneva, where WWW originated in 1994.
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3. •The dissemination of knowledge relating to methodology, techniques and tools for patent research, documentation and analysis
•The promotion, coordination and updating of initiatives in patent research, documentation and analysis;
•The promotion of collaboration with national and international authorities, institutions and associations operating in intellectual property and, in particular, patent documentation;
AIDB – Italian Patent User Group: aims
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www.aidb.it

4. www.aidb.it
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The protection, promotion and development of the profession of patent analyst and documentalist in Italy and abroad;
The promotion of initiatives aimed at the legal acknowledgement and protection of the profession of patent analyst and documentalist, in Italy and the European Union
AIDB – Italian Patent User Group: aims

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2004
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2013
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members
years
Osservatori
Ordinari
Italian Patent Information User Group members
128 members in 2013
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www.aidb.it

6. Territorial distribution of AIDB members
Emilia Romagna: 22
Piemonte: 19
Lombardia: 35
Veneto: 10
Friuli Venezia Giulia: 9
Sardegna: 4
Molise: 1
Basilicata: 2
Lazio: 7
Marche: 1
Toscana: 3
Liguria: 9
Members from other countries :
Germany 3
France 2
Belgium 1
34 new members in 2013
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www.aidb.it

7. 28%
36%
5%
14%
8%
4%
5%
Patent attorneys
Providers
Public entities
Universities, TT centres, Science and Technology Parks
Working place of AIDB members
Industry
Freelancer
/consultants
Other
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www.aidb.it

8. CEPIUG
The “Italian Patent User Group” is part of CEPIUG together with the other European Patent Information User Groups
CEPIUG is the ‘Confederacy of European Patent Information User Groups’ and was founded in 2008.
Its aim is to be a platform for cooperation for the Patent Information User Groups in Europe.
www.aidb.it

9. Certification project
CEPIUG Confederacy of European Patent Information User Groups
+
PDG Patent Documentation Group
+
PIUG Patent Information User group
=
Working group to define a certification system for Patent Information Professionals.
www.aidb.it

10. Patent Information Professionals: Who are they?
•Patent searchers working in patent department/patent attorney firms
•Searchers working in R&D
•Searchers in patent libraries/patent offices
•Outsourcing agents and freelancers
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www.aidb.it

11. Patent Information Professionals: What are their tasks?
Searching and evaluating documents for
•Patent Infringement/Patent Clearance/ Freedom to Operate
•Opposition/validity
•Novelty
•Legal status
•Landscaping/state of the art
•Due diligence/competitive intelligence
•Patent watches/alerts…
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www.aidb.it

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•To ensure professional standards in this job and legal acknowledgement and protection of this profession
•To accredit Patent information professionals and to give them opportunity of career growth
Certification Project: why?

13. Certification Project: aims
•Identification of the requirements for being certified as a professional patent searcher.
•Identification/creation of a certifying body.
•Development of examination papers.
www.aidb.it

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Certification Project: requirements for being certified
Ability to:
•prepare and run a search (Opposition/validity, novelty, patent infringement)
•Use search tools/ patent information sources
•Knowledge of patent laws /systems
•Identification of the requirements for being certified as a professional patent searcher.
•Identification/creation of a certifying body.
•Development of examination papers.

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Consist of
•A Supervisory Council
•Qualifications & Continued Professional Education Committee
•Examination Committee
•Accreditation Committee
Certification Project: Certifying Body

16. Search paper
•To demonstrate the ability to perform a “good” search.
Certification Project: Examination Paper
www.aidb.it
Analysis paper
•To demonstrate the ability to correctly analyze the results from a search using technical knowledge combined with basic knowledge of major patent systems and patents laws.

17. 2009
2011
October 2002 Idea of certification at EPIDOS meeting
May 2009 Start collaboration PDG, CEPIUG and PIUG on certification
September 2009 Start development mock examination papers
October 2011 Mock exams held in London, Munich, The Hague, Stockholm, and New Brunswick NJ (USA)
2002
. . . . . . .
2010
2012
Evaluation
mock exams
2012
Certification Project: Timeline
www.aidb.it
2008
CEPIUG Foundation

18. Certification Project: Organization Chart
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Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training
www.aidb.it

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•Bettina de Jong - (WON), chair
•Susanne Hantos - (PIUG)
•Sue Helliwell - (BPIP)
•Bart van Wezenbeek - (WON)
•Bernd Wolter - (PDG)
•Linus Wretblad - (SIPIG, CEPIUG)
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training
Certification Project: Coordinators

20. Certification Project: Regulation & Organization
Main responsibilities:
• Proposal for certification organisation
• Specification of duties
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www.aidb.it
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training
•Conditions for registration and enrolment
•More detailed information
•Practical guidelines

21. To create a:
•Critical mass to start the certification organisation
•Pool of potential contributors for developing and marking the exam papers
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Prior Experience Recognition (PER): Why?
www.aidb.it
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training

22. Prior Experience Recognition (PER): Conditions
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•Initially US and Europe (other countries in the future)
•3 months notice before window opens
•3 months window for application
www.aidb.it
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training
•Fees non-refundable in line with the exam
•If not accepted then may be used for doing the exam the first time

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Education:
•scientific/engineering/technical bachelor degree or equivalent in lieu of tertiary qualifications, 10 years experience working in a technical field
Prior Experience Recognition (PER): Prerequisites
www.aidb.it
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training
Experience:
•At least 10 years full time (15 years part time) with >60% search related
At least 20 searches per year:
•at least 5 patent infringement risk
•at least 5 novelty/validity/ opposition

24. •Willing to stand on a Patent Information Professional committee.
• Accumulation of a minimum of 10 CPD (continued professional development) points per calendar year once PER is granted.
•Required to either attend or present a course in all 3 essential parts of the exam.
Prior Experience Recognition (PER): Requirements
www.aidb.it
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training
Required evidence:
•Full CV
•Notice of employment
•Witnessed Statutory Declaration declaring the above
conditions have been met (module will be supplied)

25. Search paper
•To demonstrate the ability to perform a “good” search.
Certification Project: Exam Objectives
www.aidb.it
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training
Analysis paper
•To demonstrate the ability to correctly analyze the results from a search using technical knowledge combined with basic knowledge of major patent systems and patents laws.

26. Certification Project: Exam Committees
Search paper:
•1 question from a choice of technological areas addressing opposition/validity/novelty
•1 question from a choice of technological areas addressing patent infringement risk
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www.aidb.it
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training
Analysis paper:
•Short answer questions
•Two technology independent cases

27. Certification Project: Training & Education Group
Main responsibilities:
•Updating and enhancing the overview of existing training courses
•Mapping the required skills to the provided course content
•Defining syllabus for Patent Information Professional
• Future: Continuing Professional Education
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www.aidb.it
Coordinators
Regulation & Organization
Articles & Rules
Organization
PER
Examination committees
Chemistry search
Engineering search
Biotech search
Analysis
Training

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Name for those who qualify
Qualified Patent Information Professional
And the winner is…..
www.aidb.it

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Website www.qpip.org (under construction)
www.aidb.it

30. What still needs to be done?
•Finalise the work in progress regarding
–Articles & Rules
–Organisation
–Training & Education
–Finalise exam questions
–Develop marking schemes
–Prior Experience Recognition
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www.aidb.it

31. www.aidb.it
For Certification info, you can contact : bettina.dejong@shell.com