IPOI Trade Mark Agent study plan
IPOI Trade Mark Agent · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Trade Mark law and practice (Trade Marks Act, 1996 and Trade Mark Rules, 1996)
Map the structure of the Trade Marks Act, 1996 by section, marking which sections govern registrability, absolute and relative grounds, and opposition
Define the statutory concepts of a trade mark, sign, and distinctive character, and state how each is assessed under the Act
List the absolute grounds for refusal and identify which ones are examined ex officio versus raised only in opposition
Distinguish collective marks, certification marks, and series marks by their statutory requirements
Your checkpoint
A one-page section map of the Act plus a definitions sheet of 15 core statutory terms with their section references
Trade Mark law and practice (Trade Marks Act, 1996 and Trade Mark Rules, 1996) & Trade Mark application, examination and registration procedure
Explain relative grounds for refusal and how earlier rights, including well-known marks and non-registered prior use, are weighed
Trace the filing requirements for an application, including the content of the application form and the representation of the mark
Describe the classification system and how goods and services specifications are drafted to survive examination
Compare the examination, publication, opposition, and registration stages on a single process timeline
Your checkpoint
A process flowchart from filing to registration with statutory deadlines annotated at each stage
Trade Mark application, examination and registration procedure
Draft a compliant goods and services specification for three practice scenarios using correct class headings and precise wording
Prepare a response to an examination report raising a distinctiveness objection and a similarity objection
Explain the opposition procedure, including grounds, time limits, and the counter-statement
Outline the routes for correcting, amending, or dividing an application after filing
Your checkpoint
Two written practice answers: one class specification set and one examination report response, each under timed conditions
Trade Mark application, examination and registration procedure & Trade Mark law and practice (Trade Marks Act, 1996 and Trade Mark Rules, 1996)
Explain the rights conferred by registration and the scope of infringement, including use in the course of trade and likelihood of confusion
Summarise the revocation and invalidity grounds, including non-use, and the relevant periods
Describe the renewal, assignment, and licensing provisions and recordal requirements
Identify the procedural rules on evidence and case management in Registry proceedings
Your checkpoint
A comparative table of infringement, revocation, and invalidity actions showing grounds, burden, and remedies
Trade Mark guidelines and procedures of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland
Locate and read the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland trade mark guidelines and note where they depart from a plain reading of the Act
State the Office's practice on examination timelines, objection letters, and response periods
Explain the Office's requirements for filing evidence, extensions of time, and hearings
Describe the Office's online filing and e-services workflow for applications and subsequent transactions
Your checkpoint
A practice notes document of at least ten Office-specific procedural points, each with its source guideline or rule
Trade Mark guidelines and procedures of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland & Trade Mark application, examination and registration procedure
Apply Office classification practice to correct common specification defects in three sample cases
Describe how the Office handles Madrid Protocol designations and subsequent designations
Explain the Office's practice on publication, opposition filing, and the cooling-off period
Draft a client-facing letter explaining an Office objection and proposing a response strategy
Your checkpoint
A client letter responding to a realistic Office objection, plus a corrected specification for one sample case
Regulation of Trade Mark Agents
Explain the regulatory framework for trade mark agents, including registration, eligibility, and continuing obligations
Describe the standards of conduct expected of a registered agent, including conflicts of interest and client confidentiality
Outline the disciplinary process for agents and the consequences of misconduct
Distinguish the role of a registered trade mark agent from that of a solicitor or barrister in Registry proceedings
Your checkpoint
A summary of agent regulation covering registration, conduct, and discipline, with a short scenario analysis of two ethical dilemmas
Trade Mark law and practice (Trade Marks Act, 1996 and Trade Mark Rules, 1996) & Trade Mark application, examination and registration procedure & Trade Mark guidelines and procedures of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland & Regulation of Trade Mark Agents
Synthesise all four domains into a single revision outline weighted by exam percentage
Complete a full timed mock examination under exam conditions
Review every incorrect mock answer and trace it to the relevant statute, rule, or Office guideline
Rehearse concise written explanations of the ten most frequently tested concepts
Your checkpoint
A scored mock examination with a written error log mapping each mistake to its source provision
Milestones
Week 2: Can state the absolute and relative grounds for refusal and cite the governing section for each without notes
Week 4: Can draft a full application package, including specification, and outline the opposition timeline from memory
Week 6: Can answer Office-practice questions using guideline-specific detail rather than general legal principle
Week 8: Scores at least 70% on the timed mock and has a closed error log with every item traced to a source