RULES AND REGULATIONS 

(Bet that scared you :)

Now, we don’t want to be bureaucratic, but we do want everything to run smoothly and fairly. So here are the RULES and REGULATIONS (everybody gotta have ‘em)…

Devices and Research Resources

·       To compete, you must Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) – LapTop, Tablet, Smart Phone, Abacus...whatever. We can’t provide hardware.

·       Please also bring along your own electricity – make sure your batteries are charged, and as a back-up bring a charger (and an adapter).

In 2024, you’ll be in Singapore: 230V, 50Hz, the standard type of power socket used is the Type G power socket. OK if you have an Abacus you don’t need electricity.

·       Our hosts, the IPOS, are kindly supplying WiFi access to the Internet. Make sure your LapTop, Tablet, Smart phone, Abacus etc...can connect.

·       A number of database providers will kindly donate free access to their tools during the Patent Olympiad. Details to be confirmed.

·       We expect that you Patent Olympians will be able to use your own accounts (if the account owner allows) for your preferred patent research databases.

The Test

This’ll be the challenging part for you Patent Olympiad competitors.

The Patent Olympiad will be arranged in a three-part format, where you will have 3 hours in total to complete the tasks given, namely:

·         Invalidity search – you’ll have to find prior art for a given fictive patent claiming case

·         Prior art search – you’ve got to craft a search strategy

·         Multiple choice - patent-related questions of searching

All of these challenges have been devised by our fiendish Quizmasters who have been dragooned from all corners of the world to give you a hard time :)

You’ll be pleased to know that all of the Patent Olympiad challenges will be set in the general mechanical technology area, so no specialised knowledge of quantum mechanics, cosmology or gene sequencing is necessary.

Although the 2024 Patent Olympiad will be held in Singapore, the language of the competition will be that of Shakespeare....that’s English of course (no we don’t mean Shakespearean English but modern-day English :)

One more thing…for Patent Olympiad…you’ve got to be present in person, so: not logged in remotely, no telepathy, no proxy, no telekinesis, no ouija...

 

Got It?