Prescribed Subject Groups

The subject groups prescribed by Commonwealth Legislation for registration as a patent attorney or a trade marks attorney are:

·         Group A - Legal process and overview of intellectual property

·         Group B - Professional Conduct

·         Group C - Trademark Law

·         Group D - Trademark Practice

·         Group E - Patent Law

·         Group F - Patent System

·         Group G - Drafting Patent Specifications

·         Group H - Interpretation and validity of Patent Specifications

·         Group I - Designs

Subjects A to E and I must be passed (or an exemption obtained) before a candidate may sit for subjects F to H. The passing of subjects A to D will allow a candidate to seek registration as a trade marks attorney, whilst all of subjects A to I must be passed for a candidate to seek registration as a patent attorney.

Exemptions from any subject are available if a subject of similar scope and standard has been passed. For example, legal process may be part of a law degree. Post graduate courses in industrial property are available at Monash University (subjects A to E), the University of Melbourne (subjects A to E and I). Successful completion of such a course may entitle candidates to exemption from subjects A to E.

Examinations are conducted by the Professional Standards Board in capital cities each year, usually in October. Details are available on the web site of the Professional Standards Board and are published in the Official Journal of Patents, Trade Marks and Designs in about June each year. The Secretary of the Board may be contacted via:

The Secretary
Professional Standards Board
For Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys
PO Box 200
WODEN ACT 2606
Telephone 02 6283 2345
Facsimile 02 6285 1048

Information concerning exemptions and the approval of academic qualifications may also be obtained from the Secretary of the Board.

The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA) is the peak professional body representing Australian patent and trade mark attorneys.
Phone Australia: 03 9819 2004. Email: mail@ipta.org.au

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