2009 patent bar exam registration opens

Patent attorney prospects may register for this year's exam from June 22 to July 17. From December 5 to 6, the exam will take place in 15 cities including Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hefei, Fuzhou, Jinan, Zhengzhou and Wuhan.

Testing subjects include patent law, relevant laws and patent attorney practice. A qualifying score will be set for the first two subjects combined while a separate score to be determined for the latter one. If an examinee has one of the two scores above the qualifying score, that score will remain effective for the next three years. He or she only needs pass the other subject in the next two years. If failing to pass within the time limit, he or she may start all over.