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Ortssektion München . Local Section Munich . Section locale de Munich
12.02.2015 su15009mp
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0.2.1/0.3.2/0.2.2
NEXT DEMONSTRATION WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2015
How many patents does Europe need?
At the beginning of 2015, staff of the EPO is faced with demands for massive increases in production (up to 20%) at the same time as a further worsening of their working conditions. The EPO receives some 150.000 patent applications a year, of which roughly one-third (35 %) come from the EPO member states and two-thirds (65 %) from outside Europe
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.
Despite the EPO’s
very
healthy financial situation
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, Mr Battistelli’s main policy aim for the Office seems to be to make it more “efficient”
. According to staff, efficiency is not an aim by itself: it is subordinated to the Office's duty, as a public service, to examine patent applications
thoroughly
and to refuse any “bad” patents that would otherwise be a
nuisance, in particular for the many European small and medium-sized enterprises that cannot afford expensive
litigation. Mr Battistelli’s single
-
minded focus on “efficiency” and
cost cutting is not in the interest of Europe!
March to the Danish consulate
On 24 January 2015 some 1000 colleagues braved the freezing cold for a demonstration
in front of the Danish consulate in Munich. Staff reproaches the EPO’s Administrative
Council headed by Mr Kongstad, a Dane, for its
failure to exercise due oversight
over the President of the EPO, its
failure to fulfill its duty of care
towards EPO staff by allowing unacceptable employment law to be imposed on staff, and its
lack of transparency
. The demonstration was reported in the Danish press.
The Danish newspaper “
” published a
rather critical article
of 3 pages entitled “
Raging war
at the EPO”. A
n English translation can be found by
scrolling through the document.
Wednesday 25 February 2015 - March to the British consulate
(UK), member of the British delegation, is a major player in the Administrative Council. He was also recently re-elected
chairman of the Patent Law Committee for a three-year term, starting on 30 March 2014. Like Mr Kongstad, Mr Dennehey is member of the
“Board 28”,
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In 2013 and 2014, the EPO had an operating surplus of over 300 million Euros.
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Biography of Mr Sean Dennehey: https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sean-dennehey
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2 the ultra-secretive think-tank of the Administrative Council. The Board 28 met this week to
discuss and probably decide upon the future of DG3.
Mr Dennehey actively supports and defends the reforms of Mr Battistelli, which increasingly deny EPO staff fundamental rights that are taken for granted by all other European citizens. Mr Dennehey also supports the Office in trying to suppress
public discussion about the suspension of a Member of the Boards of Appeal while leaving space for Mr Battistelli to express his view of the events behind closed doors. We wish to alert the British government to the problems in the EPO and the role played by the British delegation. We hope to be able to meet the British Consul-General, Paul
Richard Heardman, to ask for his support.
What are our claims?
for
Rule of Law
,
Freedom of Association
and
Honest Negotiation
of our work package. But we do not forget the mission of the EPO as a public service created for the benefit of the citizens of Europe. That is why we continue to defend
quality
in search and examination as well as
more
transparency
in the governance of the EPO.
The demonstration will start in front of the Isar building on Wednesday 25 February at 12.10h. We expect to arrive at the British consulate (Möhlstraße 5) at 13.15h.
We invite all staff to participate. SUEPO Munich
"Mr Battistelli made it clear that, in his view, action is now expected and that academic models and debates, however interesting, are not enough to answer the priorities expressed by the Council. Ms Brimelow called for a measured approach in matters that are by essence of deep and long-term relevance." [...] "Both Mr Battistelli and Mr Kongstad stressed that the March Council conclusions were clear enough to enable the rapid development of proposals.
Priority on increased output should be the leading consideration.
It is no longer time for consultation, but rather for action and a real sense of urgency should prevail."
Board 28 meeting of 6 May 2009
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139th meeting of the AC: http://www.epo.org/news issues/news/2014/20140328.html
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What does EPO staff want? http://www.suepo.org/public/su14286cp.pdf