General presentation

French Patent & Trademark Attorney, a regulated profession 

The profession of Intellectual Property Attorney, also called CPI, is regulated by the Intellectual Property Code.
A CPI is an independent professional, a engineer and/or lawyer with a specialised legal degree.

It is mandatory to possess: 

• A national legal, scientific, technical or equivalent post-graduate degree,
• A diploma delivered by the International Centre for IP Studies (CEIPI), or a recognised equivalent,
• Adherence to the prescribed conditions of these diplomas and of professional practice; at least three years professional practice required.
• Successful completion of a professional aptitude exam or eight years of professional practice under the responsibility of a person qualified in the field of intellectual property.

Subject to also demonstrating good moral characteristics, meeting these conditions entitles the candidate to be added to the list of those qualified in matters of intellectual property. 
Once accepted on this list, qualified persons may then decide to either follow their careers in business or industry, or they may elect to become a CPI, working exclusively for a specialist professional practice.
Persons wishing to pursue this second option must then also register on the official list of CPIs, and it is mandatory that they become members of the CNCPI.

If you wish to know more about the training of CPIs, click here

The CPI, an expert at your service 

To protect your ideas and innovations, a CPI offers diverse expertise in order to accompany you reliably and efficiently.

STRATEGIC EXPERTISE

 

• Definition and implementation of an optimised strategy for the protection and valuation of intangible assets
   
• Support for innovation and commercial action 
   
• Creating and training teams in charge of intellectual property
   
• Collaboration with the enterprise leaders
   

LEGAL AND JUDICIAL EXPERTISE

 

• Prevention of litigation
   
• Advice and assistance for litigation, in France or abroad, e.g. counterfeiting, validation of certificates and proprietary claims
   
• Inventions made by employees
   
• Negotiation and drafting of contracts (e.g. assignment, license, franchise...)
   

ECONOMIC EXPERTISE

 

• Assistance during sales of companies
   
• Valuation and audit of intellectual property portfolios
   
• Economic review and intelligence
   

EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTISE

 

• Permanent contact with national, European, and international administrations to obtain and maintain intellectual property rights
   
• A network of foreign correspondents in the major European and other countries
   
• Knowledge and practice of the various regulatory systems in effect