French Intellectual Property Code

Subject to the provisions of Article R. 421-1-1, the registration of a natural person on the list of qualified industrial property persons provided for in Article L. 421-1 is subject to compliance with all of the following conditions: 1° Possession of a national postgraduate legal, scientific or technical degree awarded by a public scientific, cultural and professional establishment within the meaning of loi n° 84-52 du 26 janvier 1984 habilité…

The following may also be entered on the list of qualified persons provided for in Article L. 421-1 : 1° Subject to meeting the diploma requirements of 1° and 2° of Article R. 421-1 and provide evidence of at least eight years of professional practice relating to industrial property : a) Persons who have practised within one or more companies, groups of companies, associations, foundations or public establishments; b) Employees…

The reality and content of the professional practice of the persons referred to in Article R. 421-1-1 as well as their knowledge of the ethical rules relating to the profession of industrial property attorney are subject, under the conditions laid down by order of the Minister responsible for industrial property, to scrutiny by the panel mentioned in Article R. 421-6. The jury also determines, in the light of the professional…

No one may be entered on the list if they have been:

As stated in Article R. 79 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: (…) bulletin no. 2 of the criminal record is issued: (….) 24° To the Director General of the Institut national de la propriété industrielle for inclusion on the list of persons qualified in industrial property and on the list provided for in Article L. 422-5.

The indication of specialisation attached to the registration of persons qualified in industrial property may be that of patents for invention or that of trademarks, designs and models, on the basis of professional practice, supplemented, where appropriate, by that of engineer or lawyer, on the basis of diplomas. Where appropriate, several specialisations may be combined. An order of the Minister responsible for industrial property may provide for other specialisations if…

The professional practice provided for in Article R. 421-1 (3°) results from the exercise on a principal basis of an activity of study, advice, assistance or representation in matters of industrial property, ancillary rights and rights relating to any related matter. The professional practice must have been acquired in France in the field corresponding to the specialisation sought and under the responsibility of a person qualified in industrial property registered…

The examination board responsible for supervising the tests in the examination provided for in article R. 421-1 (4°) comprises a magistrate of the judiciary, president, a university professor teaching private law, a lawyer, two persons qualified in industrial property and four persons registered on the list of persons qualified in industrial property, including two industrial property attorneys. A deputy is appointed for each full member. The conditions for the appointment…

The diploma, training period and professional examination conditions provided for in articles R. 421-1 and R. 421-1-1 do not apply to persons who have successfully completed a course of study and, where applicable, the professional training required in addition to this course of study and who can provide proof of: 1° Either a diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications entitling them to practise the profession in a Member…