The Planning Technique I Used: Part Three - Parallel Timelines

SPOILER ALERT - DETAILS FROM Q8 FROM 2015 FD1 PAPER

Another technique that you must master for FD1 is dealing with multiple applications with a spaghetti junction of dates. These kinds of questions are not tricky, provided you approach them in a logical and structured way. An essential skill for dealing with all of these deadlines and dates in these so-called ‘Timeline’ questions, is to draw parallel timelines. These let you visualise the situation at hand and often flag up areas to explore within a given question. There are a few techniques for drawing parallel timelines, so find one that you like. However, first things first…

What Is A ‘Timeline’ Question?

A timeline question is any question where you appear to be given two or three applications, sometimes with some disclosures. There’ll be a number of dates involved and they will often cross over each other. An example of this would be Question 8 from 2015. If you intend to sit this paper or do this question as part of your revision, perhaps don’t look at the images embedded in this article, or come back to it once you have done the paper/question.

Question 8 from 2015 is the prime example of a timeline question. As soon as you look you can see EP-A granted September 2014, PA-1 published in 2005, US-A1 filed in December 2008, published in June 2010, US-A2 filed in February 2009, published in September 2010, and US-A3 filed in April 2010. The first thing to do to begin making sense of this situation would be to draw a parallel timeline. Here’s mine:

My Parallel Timeline Method

In brief, I turn the page to landscape, and then represent each application with a vertical line. Any relevant date for that application goes on the left, and a brief description goes on the right. Relationships between applications (e.g. priority claims) are indicated with a dashed line across the horizontal from the date on the relevant application, so it makes sense to put related applications next to each other. You can list disclosed subject matter next to the line, or if you have more space on the right just list it there. I tend to put non-patent disclosures on a single line on the far right, even if there are multiple, as often the only relevant date for those is the publication date. Today’s date is written at the bottom, leaving some space for any actions which might occur after todays date.

I won’t be spoilering this question in too deep a way, but immediately from the parallel timeline a number of things should become evident. Perhaps go and sit this question and see if they jump out at you.

From here, I would go and do my 6-box method plan, which I’ve reproduced for you to the left (or above on mobile). You can see my application of the ‘IRAC’ formula coming into play in said plan.

When I sat this question using these two methods and the IRAC formula, I scored 18/25 as marked by my tutor.

Alternative Timeline Methods

Other sources use a slightly different timeline method, having one line down the centre with all relevant dates thereupon, and then by placing one type of information on the right hand side, and the rest of the information on the left. One example would be our client’s applications on the right hand side, and any other disclosures or applications on the left.

This is really personal preference - I found that parallel timelines worked best for me, but you really just need to choose one, stick with it, and get to know it in time for the exams.

Summing Up

With the parallel timeline technique discussed in this article, I have now disclosed all three of the planning techniques I used to pass FD1 in 2020. The final part of what I did was to start revising and practicing early, implement these techniques earnestly, and keep pushing all the way to the exam by refreshing my knowledge and refining my techniques. Make it your mission today to go out after work, buy a set of pens and a notebook, and begin preparation for FD1 2021.

If you’d like any more detail on any of the techniques I have discussed, please do comment or give me an e-mail and I will get back to you.

Otherwise, let’s get to work.