Thanks,

Jason

The test is really easy on computer… the most important info I learned at the PLI course was in the very beginning. Memorize the chapter numbers that are important! Then, you can open a PDF version of a chapter and hit “Ctrl-F” (find) until you find the text in your question… the questions are taken right out of the MPEP. Also, memorize the tough questions on prior exams… they re-appeared verbatim and to this day, there’s one question I still don’t understand, but I got it right because I memorized the answer choice.

Trust me, I feel your frustration. I hear this over and over. It is also particularly frustrating in the computer science area that the best, most respected programs in the country do not have the accreditation the USPTO requires for Category A because that particular accreditation is considered largely to be a joke by the industry.

Hopefully better days are coming, but Kappos certainly has other, more important issues to fix before getting to the patent bar exam, which is truly sad in and of itself.

-Gene

If you are asking what one could due to become familiar with patent law prior to actually studying for the patent bar exam what I recommend is you get a copy of Patent Law, Third Edition, by Janice Mueller. See:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0735578311?tag=ipwatchdogcom&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0735578311&adid=06WFZGNQXDNWD0PKB9XW&

This is an excellent primer on patent law. It is easy to read, correct and it will give you some good basic understanding of patent law. It is excellent as a study aide for law students, and as a bring you up to speed quick reference for engineers, scientists and inventors.

-Gene

I majored in Materials Science & Engineering, and it absolutely baffles me how the Patent Bar exam doesn’t recognize it under Category A. Just like how the exam itself is completely outdated, the requirements for sitting in the exam are ridiculous – it has ceramic engineering and metallurgy as Category A and there isn’t probably not a single university left in the US that hasn’t grouped their ceramic department/metallurgy departments together and rename as Materials Science. My Materials Science building has the words “Building of Metallurgy” engraved in stone at the entrance – that was engraved more than 80 years ago. Sorry, I had to get it out. It’s just ridiculous.

James.

I wrote to the OED to see if they would consider letting me sit for the patent bar even though I did not meet the explicit requirements. I wanted to avoid taking an extra physics class if I did not need to do so. The OED told me that they could not give me any info and the only way they would make a decision would be if I applied to sit for the exam.

I then applied to sit for the exam and included arguments & documentation to show that my background was sufficient to sit under Category B.xii (other training – where the OED states they will consider other factors on a case-by-case basis). I mainly described the full body of my coursework and laid out why I believed I was qualified to sit. I was pleased when they granted my request, and I was allowed to take (and ultimately pass) the patent bar without having to take an additional physics class. It was not difficult to schedule a patent bar review course within the 90 days, and I took the exam toward the end of the 90 day window.

So, my advice would be that if you’re close to the line in Cat. B and you can make a credible argument as to why you believe that you have sufficient technical expertise to sit, it may be worth applying to see if you can sit without investing the time to take a course at a community college or other institution. If the OED grants your request, the 90-day window should be sufficient to take a review course and sit for the exam.