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The Office also held 47 IP clinics in 2017, which give an opportunity to the public, inventors, entrepreneurs and business people to discuss on a one -to-one basis with Patents Office staff, matters concerning IP applications they intend to make or have already made to the Office. Pre-filing interventions are carried out by examiners for non-represented applicants who do not fully understand the requirements of the Patents Act and Rules. This approach has been found to be very helpful in providing basic guidance on procedures and forms required for the registration of IP rights, the processes of obtaining IP protection in Ireland or abroad. Assistance in constructing a do-it-yourself search strategy for patents and accessing and using online patent databases is also provided.
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IP Clinics (one-to-one sessions with a patent examiner for pre-filing advice) are managed by the Information Centre staff. Pre-filing interventions are carried out by examiners for non-represented applicants who do not fully understand the requirements of the Patents Act and Rules.
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