Updated and republished on 19 May 2025.

If you are preparing for the EPAC or EQE, you will definitely need an EPC and a PCT reference book. In this post, I will list the different EPC reference books I am aware of. I am also summarising some of their advantages and disadvantages, adding my honest but personal opinion.

When it comes to the best EPC reference book, there are strong opinions out there, everyone is advocating for the book they used. Please keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to follow your colleague’s or my advice. Many will recommend Visser as that is the most known book, but that doesn’t mean it will work for you too. The EPC.App is relatively new, so your colleagues might not have heard about that option yet, but you might find it helpful and convenient, as many candidates do. Some candidates like Hoekstra’s reference book because it is huge, but others dislike it for the exact same reason.

I met candidates who struggled with one book, but then switched to another one a few months before the exam and it worked for them way better. So, I highly recommend checking out all of these options, and see if you like them or not. While it is not advised to switch your reference book shortly before the exam, do not hesitate to try another book a few months before the exam if you feel the current one does not work for you.

Moreover, please don’t forget that whatever book you choose, simply buying a book will not help you pass the exam. You will have to spend a lot of time with your chosen materials to tab, highlight, annotate and get to know them. (I know, this almost sounds like the description of a romantic relationship…)

*My LinkedIn poll about the EPC reference books in May 2025*

Visser’s Annotated European Patent Convention (edited by Kaisa Suominen, Peter de Lange, Andrew Rudge, Nina Ferara)

This book was the first annotated EPC reference (first published in 1994), and (or therefore?) it is the best known and most frequently used. In a LinkedIn poll I created, Visser was the absolute winner as the most popular EPC reference book (see the poll result above).

Although I didn’t use the Visser EPC reference book when preparing for my EQE exams, Wolters Kluwer was kind enough to provide me with a copy to support my work as a tutor. So, I have recently started using it, and I absolutely see why people love it. I won’t lie; I have also become a Visser fan!

This book is absolutely suitable for Paper F candidates as well, thanks to its detailed yet understandable explanatory comments. The comments help you not only learn the basics but also understand the legal background, making it incredibly useful for studying.

Another important advantage of the Visser book is its concise format. It contains everything that is important but still has a practical size. The book is divided into two main parts: the Articles of the EPC, followed by the Implementing Regulations (the Rules), each with the respective commentary. Some additional sections are also included (e.g. Rules relating to UPC and a summary of G Decisions).

If I had to mention a downside, this would be it: having the Articles and the corresponding Rules in separate parts of the book can sometimes make searching a bit time-consuming. However, that’s probably just a matter of habit, and I should really start by using the index more often. I usually open the book directly at the Article and skim the comments there, even when the information I need might be actually in the second part, under the relevant Rule. This often means the book is open in one place, while I’m using a bookmark (or my finger) in the other, flipping back and forth. True story: I’ve actually seen candidates tear the Visser reference book into two parts, so that they can have the Articles and Rules open side by side simultaneously.

Again, this may just be because I was used to the Hoekstra reference book, where everything related to a single topic (both Articles and Rules) is grouped together.

Fortunately, the Visser reference book includes a very helpful index at the back for quick keyword searches. Having a good index is incredibly valuable; in the first few months of studying, you’ll probably use that part the most! And if you get used to using the index, you will probably not experience the tiny inconvenience I mentioned above. 🙂

The 2025 edition is suitable for candidates preparing for the EQE 2026. It should be on readers’ desks by June at the latest, but it is already available for pre-order here.

A supplementary overview for EQE 2026 candidates of the main legal changes between the Visser’s Annotated European Patent Convention 2024 edition and 31.10.2024 will be available for free at the end of 2025.

A few thoughts about Visser from the comments under my LinkedIn poll:

References to the European Patent Convention (Hoekstra)

If you have been following my EQE blog for a while, you have probably noticed that I used Hoekstra's EPC reference book during my preparation (2019-2021). My reason for using this book was very simple: I got a free copy from the EPO through their Candidate Support Program. I started using it and it worked for me, so I haven't tried other books before my exam.

What I liked most was that it includes EVERYTHING you might need in one place, right next to the relevant Articles. The Rules, parts of the Guidelines and most important T/G/J decisions are all mentioned under a certain Article. The flowcharts and small overview tables with the time limits, consequences, and available remedies are extremely useful. If you are someone who prefers visual aids while studying, having these directly in the book is a big help. Honestly, these visual summaries are my favourite feature of the Hoekstra EPC reference book (see an example below).

Since the Articles are listed in sequence in the book, most people find it easy to navigate. For example, if you encounter an exam question about languages, you can open your book at Art. 14 EPC, and the related Rules, decisions, overviews will all be there.

This is what the flowcharts and tables in the book look like

If you have the Hoekstra reference book, you can use that for most of the EQE questions as it also includes the Euro-PCT guide, the Rules Relating to Fees, and eight further useful annexes (see here). I rarely had to open the Guidelines as the Hoekstra reference book includes the relevant parts of it. With WISEflow now connected to the online GL this might not be that important anymore, but when I prepared for the EQE, having access to the online resources was not in the picture yet.

That said, there are some disadvantages. The book is quite large, which means it can take time to find certain things in it (e.g. the part about opposition is really long, many candidates struggle with finding the answer for opposition related questions). Because of its size, it can be cumbersome to take it with you to the office, home, or if you are travelling. Since COVID, many people work in a hybrid setup, so this is also important to consider.

Another downside is the paper quality: the papers are thin and sometimes see-through.

The updated version for EQE 2026 will be available in October 2025.

Here are a few thoughts about the Hoekstra reference book from the comments under my LinkedIn poll:

EPC.App

A few years ago I also started using the EPC.App to always have access to the most recent version of the EPC, and to be able to travel anywhere without having to take a physical reference book with me. Before going into the details, let me tell you that I find the name a little confusing. This is actually not an app for your smartphone but simply a website that you can open after signing up (free for the first month, then you can pay for a 3-month period or a year; students pay a discounted fee). I actually prefer that it is a website, it is very convenient to use. So, don’t be discouraged by the name “App”.

The content of EPC.App is updated twice per year (in April and November), while individual user annotations will be retained in contrast to a conventional book. The current, 14th edition was updated with the legal text as in force on 1 April 2025.

Undeniably, EPC.App has great advantages. Firstly, it is online, so it is easy to search electronically, and you can keep studying wherever you are. You can also print your annotated version a few months before the EQE to have a physical copy. (Unfortunately, you must do this for the EQE, as you cannot access EPC.App online from WISEflow, the exam software.) Secondly, we can save trees by not printing and shipping huge books over Europe. 🌳

Another huge advantage is that the editors can correct errors quickly. In case you find any mistakes, they will correct it within a few hours (tested 🙋🏽‍♀️). You don't have to wait a full year for a new version, or even for the next legal update. Also, with EPC.App, your notes and annotations will also stay in the updated version, so you can always use the most recent version, but your comments will not disappear.

EPC.App is relatively new, this is the reason why it scored last in my LinkedIn poll (see the result at the top of this post).

A few candidates in my Paper D1 study group used EPC.App. After each study group meeting (between September and mid-December), they added my comments and parts of my legal refreshers to their EPC.App. Then, around Christmas, once we had finished all the legal topics, they ordered the printed version of the book. In the final 2–3 months of preparation, they used only the physical copy to get used to it before the exam.

The printed book is actually amazing! It’s your personalised reference book, complete with your own notes and your name on it. It’s just as concise and compact as Visser, but with an important difference: the Articles, Rules, and corresponding case law are all in the same section of the book. To be honest, I prefer this layout to Visser.

When my Paper F candidates researched and borrowed different EPC reference books to decide which one to purchase, some of them mentioned that while EPC.App appears incredibly well-structured, its comments can be a bit advanced. This might be a potential downside of EPC.App: it’s excellent for candidates who already have a basic understanding of the EPC or for those who have already passed and want a reference book that is always up to date. However, it might not be the best choice if you're a complete beginner looking to learn the basics and understand the background as well.

IP.appify GmbH offers Fillun study group members a discount code for 30% off the first year of an annual license for a first-time subscription to either EPC.App or PCT.App. (The second app is offered at a 40% discount anyway.)

**A screenshot from EPC.App**

As you can see, anything that is related is linked to the certain Article. On the right side, you can see the Author’s helpful comments, summaries. You can also add your own comments (both electronically or on paper).

A few thoughts about the EPC.App from the comments under my LinkedIn poll:

Reference books in German and French languages

I’ve received a few comments about the German and French reference books:

“In German, besides the EPC.App and the PCT.App, there is for example the Kley/Gundlach if you like "big" books and the "EPÜ- und PCT-Tabellen" by Düwel. Personally, I have only used the first two, but I heard praise in particular also for the last book that is tabulated with EPC and PCT side-by-side.”

“I used the EPC and PCT tables by Düwel and they are great for D and any other legal questions, because you can find the Articles and Rules grouped by topic with references to other relevant legal texts (Articles/Rules, Guidelines, case law,...) in the last column so you can quickly find any relevant answers to questions once you found something related. In the back you find an index and a summary of all G desicions in case you need to look up the guiding principles.”

“For French people, we do have a book that is widely used and very convenient: https://www.gregorybaque.com/”

Ignacio Lobato’s Paper D guide –> coming soon!

Topic-Related Index to the EPC, PCT and UP/UPC

The Topic-Related Index to the EPC, PCT and UP/UPC (compiled by Roel van Woudenberg and Cees Mulder) is a bit of an outlier in this post, as it is not a traditional EPC or PCT reference book, but a collection of the legal basis. This book enables to quickly identify and locate a relevant Article or Rule in the EPC and/or the PCT when looking for information on a particular topic. At the same time, it provides reference to the relevant finding place in the EPO Guidelines or PCT Applicant’s Guide.

Basically, the whole book is filled with tables; you can find the corresponding legal basis for each EPC and PCT legal topic. Accordingly, this book can be used as a starting point in Paper D1 or M2. When you read a question, you can first look it up in the Topic-Related Index, and the book will guide you to the Article/Rule/GL section you need. Maybe it is easier to understand this by looking at a page of the book, so you can find two photos below.

The 2025 edition of the Topic-Related Index is already available. It takes account of the EPC Rules effective 1 April 2025 and the Regulations under the PCT effective 1 July 2025. In addition, the book includes references to the main provisions relating to the European patent with unitary effect (‘Unitary Patent’) and the Unified Patent Court, which is good news for candidates sitting the new EQE exams.

Two random pages of the Topic-Related Index to help you understand its helpful layout.

Should you purchase a new EPC reference book after passing your Paper F exam?

If you passed the Paper F exam in 2025 using the reference books you purchased for your Foundation exam (i.e. your book already includes all legal changes up to 2024, such as the new Rule 7a EPC), I wouldn’t recommend buying a new reference book for your M2 exam. Fortunately, not much has changed this year. You probably already have tabs, annotations, and comments in your current book; and you’ve likely spent a lot of time getting to know it. So why start over when there are barely any legal changes?

Just make sure to update the few things that have changed (e.g. Laos becoming a new validation state as of 1 April 2025, the abolition of fax as of 1 July 2024, etc.).

Of course, if you haven’t spent much time annotating your current book—or if your employer is happy to buy you a new one—then go for it. I’m just saying that for most candidates, buying a new book might not be necessary.

Do you have any comments about the EPC reference books?

We (me and the EQE candidates) would love to hear your opinion!

EPC reference books