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The patent bar
1 min read

The patent bar

I attended a patent bar information session yesterday and I must admit that I walked away a little nervous. The speaker didn’t say anything that I wasn’t already aware of, but I guess all of it just kind of hit me at once. Here is the gist of it:

  • It’s recommended, depending on the study kit/course you choose, that you spend 150-200 hours studying for the exam
  • The study kits/courses run from $800-$2300
  • The pass rate hovers between 30 and 50 percent
  • Given the pass rate it is possible that I might have to take it more than once
  • It costs $390 each time you take it
  • This, coupled with law school (and work over the summer) and my insatiable information appetite, makes for a very busy Justin

The entire exam is based on the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) — a ~3000 page boat anchor that I’ve been told is about as exciting as a phone book. Very, very, very dry.

The only good thing I can say about the exam is that it is now computerized (this is the first year), and so it is offered continuously throughout the year instead of just twice as in previous years. I’m really unsure as to when I’ll actually take it, but it will probably be sometime later this year. It’s kind of up in the air. The fun never ends.

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