Registration of patent attorneys

Do you want to work as a patent attorney in the Netherlands? If so, you have to be registered in the Register of Patent Attorneys (Octrooigemachtigdenregister, in Dutch). 

What is a patent attorney 

A patent attorney is a lawyer who is an expert on intellectual property laws. They advise on securing and protecting patents. The title of patent attorney in the Netherlands is protected by law. A patent attorney must complete a specific education and a traineeship before they can be included in the Register. 

Working as a foreign patent attorney in the Netherlands 

Are you a patent attorney in a EU or EEA country and do you need to do a limited number of patent applications in the Netherlands for a specific period? You can contact the director of the Netherlands Patent Office for permission (in Dutch). With permission, you can work temporarily as a foreign patent attorney in the Netherlands. If this is not sufficient, you need to become a patent attorney in the Netherlands. 

Conditions for patent attorneys in the Netherlands 

To work as a patent attorney in the Netherlands you need to:

• have a Master's degree in science or technology
• have completed a 3-year traineeship with an experienced patent attorney with a part-time theoretical education
• have passed the Dutch exams for patent attorney (in Dutch)
• keep to the behavioural code for patent attorneys (in Dutch) 

What does your traineeship consist of? 

During your 3-year traineeship you gain experience working under a qualified patent attorney. You must also follow part-time theoretical courses on: 

• general law, patent law and other relevant Dutch and European law
• practical skills relating to patent applications and infringement advice
• communication skills 

You follow these courses with the organisation where you work as a trainee or through the Stichting Beroepsopleiding Octrooigemachtigde (SBO). The courses take 2 years to complete. Use this form to apply for patent attorney courses with SBO (in Dutch). 

Dutch patent attorney exams 

When you complete your traineeship and theoretical courses, you must pass the Dutch exam for patent attorney (in Dutch) to qualify for registration. The examination consists of a total of 6 exams throughout the year.

European patent attorney courses and exams 

If you want to become a European patent attorney, you can apply to take a 2-year training course for European Qualification Examinations (EQE) in the Netherlands. These courses are also available in French and German.

Register of Patent Attorneys 

Once you pass the exam and obtain the required experience, you can be sworn in as a patent attorney and entered into the register. This lets you work as an patent attorney, independently, for a patent agency, or in-house at a company. Clients can use the Register of Patent Attorneys to find you. 

Continuous professional development 

Registered patent attorneys have to keep their knowledge up to date through continuous professional development (permanente educatie, in Dutch) to keep their registration. You have to provide the Supervisory Board of the Institute of Patent Attorneys with an overview of the training you received every year. 

Rules of conduct 

As a patent attorney, you must observe the rules of conduct (in Dutch) of the Netherlands Institute of Patent Attorneys. These rules prescribe among others how you: 

• conduct yourself as a registered patent attorney
• advertise your services
• present yourself to the public, clients, and other patent attorneys 

Online registration procedure via Message Box 

You can ask to be added to the Register of Patent Attorneys digitally via Message Box. Message Box is a secure email system that enables you as an entrepreneur to exchange digital messages with Dutch government agencies.