tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post2855089740574810194..comments2024-03-29T13:59:42.629+00:00Comments on The IPKat: EPO the focus of Dutch newspaper article following suicideVerónica Rodríguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-89946627385907752922015-10-27T10:06:27.432+00:002015-10-27T10:06:27.432+00:00@Sarcast
the question was :
Who says that VP3 has...@Sarcast<br /><br />the question was :<br />Who says that VP3 has not been ordered on sick leave and so effectively banned from the EPO? <br /><br />I guess BB and VP1 would vigorously deny such a defamatory suspiction.<br /><br />Since their character is above any doubt , everybody would agree ?<br /><br />5th columnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-73216751522545655272015-10-07T06:37:03.288+01:002015-10-07T06:37:03.288+01:00Who says that VP3 has not been ordered on sick lea...Who says that VP3 has not been ordered on sick leave and so effectively banned from the EPO? Not that it hatters: after all, everything the president does that goes against the EPC, is approved by the council, see the "house ban case". <br /><br />SarcastAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-47436541728795523842015-10-02T19:46:05.196+01:002015-10-02T19:46:05.196+01:00@ potential recruit :
you MUST visit www.suepo.or...@ potential recruit :<br /><br />you MUST visit www.suepo.org so that you grasp the current motivational environment<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-43049682747518093812015-10-02T00:34:01.166+01:002015-10-02T00:34:01.166+01:00As cynical as I am , Immunity's last statement...As cynical as I am , Immunity's last statement implies an unproven link and is overly emotional. Each case is personal and I don't think we should or can be as definite as that. Out of respect I would refrain from commenting on the tragic cases.<br /> Potential recruits should be aware of staff concerns and the generally highly charged atmosphere. But there is a limit.Cynicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-14117813591442139662015-10-01T22:45:56.133+01:002015-10-01T22:45:56.133+01:00@Potential Recruit,
did you read the title and co...@Potential Recruit,<br /><br />did you read the title and content of Merkel's post, above?<br /><br />There have been five suicides recently at the European Patent Office. Five.<br /><br />Go somewhere else.<br /> <br />Immunity is the last refuge of a scoundrelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-80975041387044698812015-10-01T21:02:21.285+01:002015-10-01T21:02:21.285+01:00Esprit de service says...
@Potential recruit
It...Esprit de service says...<br /><br />@Potential recruit <br /><br />It also depends what position you envisage, President, VP, PD, Director, these are not permanent jobs anymore and limited to 5 year,... these positions appeal very much to grey squirrels. <br />Furthermore Administrators, etc have a more permanent character and ... these are mainly elegant hardworking red squirrels. <br />In the future however the EPO may recruit some ferrets as well,...to deal with the current grey squirrel plague.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-15132924166218486832015-10-01T20:56:13.342+01:002015-10-01T20:56:13.342+01:00Potential recruit:
You can find out all you need ...Potential recruit:<br /><br />You can find out all you need to know about the (current) EPO <a href="http://techrights.org/wiki/index.php/EPO" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <br /><br /><br />Onewhoknows is giving you sound advice ...Hart aber Gerechtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-85776305919376627652015-10-01T20:17:54.069+01:002015-10-01T20:17:54.069+01:00Onewhoknows replies to Potential recruit:
In the ...Onewhoknows replies to Potential recruit:<br /><br />In the Service Regulations you do not find that:<br />A) the atmosphere at the EPO is poisoned at all levels;<br />B) human rights are not respected;<br />C) you'll be squeezed like a lemon;<br />D) the present President and his croonies have no respect for the staff;<br />E) nepotism is a rule (what can you expect from a French President?)<br />F) not all that shines is gold.<br />G) the good old days of ideals are over.<br />My advice : Look preferably for another job elsewhereAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-58386184812594086242015-10-01T20:10:54.217+01:002015-10-01T20:10:54.217+01:00Proof of the pudding,
Alison Brimelow, in response...Proof of the pudding,<br />Alison Brimelow, in response to some unfair comments, did publish her salary and benefits (at least internally) to quash the more extreme rumours. I can't remember the details but I seem to remember thinking that she was getting no more than her fair share (maybe even slightly less than I would have though). She had nothing to hide. However...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-27461011403967493892015-10-01T20:07:01.108+01:002015-10-01T20:07:01.108+01:00Potential recruit,
The service regulations were gi...Potential recruit,<br />The service regulations were given to me as being part of my contract of employment. They have, however, been unilaterally changed by the administrative council without either consultation or agreement on my side and certainly without thought to compensation for any loss. An example would be pension contributions. Originally there was ( and still is) a 2:1 office:employee ratio but with a 8% ceiling for staff contributions. That was simply changed by 'legal' decision by the AC and gradually staff contributions have risen to 9.7%. The actual amount may seem generous to some but the principle of the Service Regulations being a binding contract between employer and employee is gone. The regs can be and are changed unilaterally and there is no legal remedy. The AC are allowed to change them so tribunals such as the ILO will find nothing wrong.Old man of EPOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-23020871479486756232015-10-01T19:31:10.506+01:002015-10-01T19:31:10.506+01:00I'm contemplating to join the EPO. For me it m...I'm contemplating to join the EPO. For me it makes sense to see these service regulations on the web.<br /><br />Is there anything else I should know, but is not written down in the service regulations?<br /><br />ThanksPotential recruitnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1543520236263539332015-10-01T18:55:08.040+01:002015-10-01T18:55:08.040+01:00"What makes you think the Dutch VP based in M...<i>"What makes you think the Dutch VP based in Munich isn't confined to his home unless the P allows him to leave it (during core hours)? To be consistent, the rules would have to be applied to him as well so that travel to, for example, Niederlande would be subject to EPO approval.</i><br /><br />VP3 has been appointed by the Administrative Council under Article 11 EPC and thus subject to the disciplinary authority of the Council - not that of the President.<br />It is not clear whether the President can actually impose "house arrest" on him.<br /><br />Apart from that he can only be removed from office as the Chairman of the Enlarged Board of Appeal on a proposal of the Enlarged Board of Appeal (Article 23(1) EPC).Dr. Who ?noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-38315031085678081672015-10-01T18:03:23.453+01:002015-10-01T18:03:23.453+01:00RedHardTop
reading the intro letter ...
I wonder...RedHardTop<br /><br />reading the intro letter ...<br /><br />I wonder, what would be the use for a job applicant? The ServRegs changed drastically the last few years. The conditions you have this year will probably change next year. Early Uncertainty from the Start (EUftS). <br /><br />"The Service Regulations also attest to the principle of strict legality of all processes within the EPO."<br /><br />Makes sense. Within the EPO its all perfectly legal.<br /><br />"[...] they may differ from corresponding national provisions in those member states where the Office maintains places of employment." <br /><br />Oh, oh... Here we go again ... <br /><br />.. but a salvatory clause (as opposed to in the seat agreement): "Despite all the care we have taken in producing and updating this document, the occasional error may have escaped our attention." <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-19017642767913837472015-10-01T16:47:18.087+01:002015-10-01T16:47:18.087+01:00Why are the president conditions published ?
why...Why are the president conditions published ? <br /><br />why are the bonusses of the vice-presidents published ?<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-54187645944606831652015-10-01T16:41:54.391+01:002015-10-01T16:41:54.391+01:00The British Delegation have strict instructions t...The British Delegation have strict instructions to avoid any pig issues.On more important matters,should Britain leave the EU contingency plans have been made to congregate at Dunkirk.We reckon we can hold out for 48 hrs.Any IP owners of yachts or pedalos are requested to do your bit.A bacon sandwich and a warm beer would be nice too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-57954867224486260762015-10-01T14:06:17.124+01:002015-10-01T14:06:17.124+01:00Now that the EPO's staff regulations have been...Now that the EPO's staff regulations have been published (http://newsletter.epo.org/9ncp3lme1n11fu785ejmsk?email=true&a=1&p=49284710&t=17314484), we can all study them and consider how happy we would be to have those determine our working conditions.<br /><br />Personally, I would not be happy with them at all. They look <b>way</b> too top-down and authoritarian in their general style and approach. This is all the more worrying when you remember that the protections provided for employees under national law do not apply, and the EPO seems to be able to take the role of the final arbiter for pretty all disputes / disagreements.<br /><br />I wonder how well the regulations will go down with potential employees? Probably not as well as the conditions of the President's own contract, the specimen version of which seems to contain some nice perks (e.g. for pension rights and claiming expenses).<br /><br />However, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, as they say. Thus, if BB is confident that the regulations are perfectly reasonable and do not breach human rights, then he would surely best prove his point if he published an amended version of his own contract in which he agrees to be bound (where possible) by precisely the same regulations as the rest of the staff. However, I suspect that we are more likely to see flocks of flying pigs before that particular day dawns.Proof of the puddingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-28495619643822869372015-10-01T06:31:17.291+01:002015-10-01T06:31:17.291+01:00Onewhoknows comments:
VP3 has always been a silent...Onewhoknows comments:<br />VP3 has always been a silent subordinate of the President and never had the guts to show disagreement with the mad line imposed upon the staff. Now, under house arrest, he has the time to meditate and understand the true nature if the President. Too late for coming out! <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-82341225991699667282015-09-30T23:57:34.927+01:002015-09-30T23:57:34.927+01:00Doctor Who?,
What makes you think the Dutch VP bas...Doctor Who?,<br />What makes you think the Dutch VP based in Munich isn't confined to his home unless the P allows him to leave it (during core hours)? To be consistent, the rules would have to be applied to him as well so that travel to, for example, Niederlande would be subject to EPO approval. <br />Good luck to him anyway. Health is more important than point scoring.Cynicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-91891391307101223882015-09-30T22:27:09.922+01:002015-09-30T22:27:09.922+01:00Onewhoknows replies:
The President has an interest...Onewhoknows replies:<br />The President has an interest in keeping VP3 at home as at work he does only damages, i.e. he's unable to control the chairs and the members who are too independent and do not obey orders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1662024353628374132015-09-30T20:54:07.239+01:002015-09-30T20:54:07.239+01:00"The present VP3, Mr Van der Eijk, is on unli...<i>"The present VP3, Mr Van der Eijk, is on unlimited sick leave and thus out of function."</i><br /><br />Sounds like a bloody malingerer to me. He should be immediately summoned to a medical examination by one of the President's doctors. And of course subject to strict "house arrest" ...<br />Doctor Who ?noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-67253318203875793932015-09-30T11:37:33.659+01:002015-09-30T11:37:33.659+01:00Onewhoknows informs:
Mr Battistelli now wants to...Onewhoknows informs:<br /> <br />Mr Battistelli now wants to sack the present VP 3, introduce "his" reform of the Boards of Appeal and install there his choice of new VP3. The new chapter in the EPO saga: "Taming the boards"<br />The present VP3, Mr Van der Eijk, is on unlimited sick leave and thus out of function. Will his nerves hold? Probably not, otherwise a golden hankshake is not excluded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-19800452439630071402015-09-25T14:06:05.723+01:002015-09-25T14:06:05.723+01:00And still nothing in the Presidents blog?? Blog.ep...And still nothing in the Presidents blog?? Blog.epo.org<br /><br />Mind you, a few weeks ago we learned "EPO at the forefront of renewable energy technology". Un peu de self-aggrandisement, as we disons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-68705322038320951712015-09-22T20:23:50.067+01:002015-09-22T20:23:50.067+01:00Nos agimur tumidis velis says ….
Yesterday I lea...Nos agimur tumidis velis says ….<br /> <br />Yesterday I leaned back in my chair and looked out above the IP landscape. Suddenly I saw through half-shut eyelids a dark EPO silhouette wheeling high up in heaven, and presently it passed again, but lower and nearer, its orbit narrowing, I understood then that I was under inspection. I lay very-still and heard the flight- feathers whistle above me and make their circle and come nearer. I could see its eyes between the great wings bear downward staring. I said, 'My dear silhouette, we are wasting time here. These fine bones are still in proper working order; they are not for you.' But how beautiful it looked, gliding down on those great sails; how beautiful it looked, veering away in the light over the IP precipice. I tell you solemnly that I was sorry to have disappointed it. To be become part of this dark silhouette, to share those wings and those eyes-- What a sublime end for somebodies moral, what an enskyment; what an experience must it be after joining it!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-63854728654297199002015-09-22T01:15:21.402+01:002015-09-22T01:15:21.402+01:00I cannot comment on the individual human tragedies...I cannot comment on the individual human tragedies, all I can say is that I'm very sorry for the persons, their families, friends and colleagues.<br /><br />On the other hand, we should see it in a broader context:<br /><br />For the non respect of local and internal law, I saw many examples in the areas of recruitment, procurement, treatment of staff reps, treatment of sick staff, separation of powers, contractual conditions of temporary staff, spying on employees and so on. Usually managers tell you openly, that they know that their decisions and actions are unlawful under national law, but nobody will sue the EPO, and their actions please the President. Even if somebody sues the EPO, it will take years. <br /><br />I foresee that in just 5 years from now, the EPO will have severe backlog problems and difficulties to recruit examiners. Reasons are:<br /> <br />1. Management is currently studying how to lower the pensions. If this applies for acquired pension rights many examiners will leave the EPO at once. In fact I know several that already left in fear of such changes.<br /><br />2. In addition, the new salary scale leads to significantly lower salaries (-30%) for newly hired staff. Pension risks are shifted to the staff, pension contributions are rising, health care contributions of gainfully employed spouses were introduced and so on. So the financial package worsened significantly.<br /><br />3. The dramatic loss of reputation of the EPO will not be helpful. Intimidation of staff and unions, despotism, non respect of work ethics and basic law principles, no career perspectives, a President that needs security body guards when he gives a speech and so on - who wants to work in such an environment? <br /><br />4. On the other hand, international engineers with degrees from the best universities and language skills are desperately needed from the private sector, see the demographic trends. High potentials will no more consider the EPO as a good and safe employer.<br /><br />The remaining examiners will be at the same time stressed by the workload, alienated from the Organisation and their work and demotivated by their job. In addition new staff will feel treated unfairly compared to old staff. <br /><br />I cannot say that the 5 individual cases have anything to do with the EPO's current situation. However I feel it is fair to say that the atmosphere under Mr. Battistelli worsened much, and that fear, pressure, unfairness and a loss of motivation indeed have an impact on likelihoods, in the same way that air pollution has an impact on health. We all need some fresh air.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-84043765640303322542015-09-22T00:48:05.674+01:002015-09-22T00:48:05.674+01:00'As to quality: Quality is way down in the for...'As to quality: Quality is way down in the form of unmotivated decisions, extremely short communications with standard phrases, in fact no clear reasons for the applicant why and how to change his application so as to get a patent.'<br /><br />This certainly reflects my experience of recent communications from the EPO, especially the bit about standard phrases with no clear reasons. I think the only change I would make is to delete the word clear. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com