tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post3254311084158912468..comments2024-03-28T16:45:51.051+00:00Comments on The IPKat: Dutch Minister trumps Court of Appeal ruling, reasserts EPO immunityVerónica Rodríguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-40924433555044160722015-04-26T14:18:52.648+01:002015-04-26T14:18:52.648+01:00King Louis XIV of France who ruled on the principl...King Louis XIV of France who ruled on the principle that ‘L’Etat c’est Moi,’ says today…<br /><br />“The principle of sovereign immunity is an archaic hangover not consonant with<br />modern morality and that it should therefore be limited whenever possible”<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-91344361322955322692015-03-10T08:58:25.694+00:002015-03-10T08:58:25.694+00:00Here's the news:
http://www.bbc.com/news/worl...Here's the news:<br /><br />http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31806086<br /><br />http://www.volkskrant.nl/dossier-kabinet-rutte-ii/opstelten-en-teeven-stappen-op~a3893120/KentzeNekenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-87541047021521130582015-03-09T22:49:55.359+00:002015-03-09T22:49:55.359+00:00The Dutch minister of Justice has had to resign! H...The Dutch minister of Justice has had to resign! He is accused of having lied to the parliament about how much he had paid to a criminal. So nothing to do with the EPO. Nevertheless, now it is Opstelten, who is next? BB? <br />PseudonanimousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-327682710136287092015-03-02T17:48:13.537+00:002015-03-02T17:48:13.537+00:00Question 8 in the original made reference to "...Question 8 in the original made reference to "andere EU-lidstaten", but the EPOrg also comprises non-EU members.<br /><br />The Norwegian delegation apparently had second thoughts about the limitation of the right to strike which was being bulldozed through by Le Président. In the very few days which separated the submission of the regulations to the council and their adoption by a show of hands, the department of commerce asked the department of labour for its input on the proposal.<br /><br />Here is the reply received two days later (cf. original <a href="http://bit.ly/1CjiZuJ" rel="nofollow">page 1</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/1B217S2" rel="nofollow">page 2</a>):<br /><br /><i>Anmodning om innspill til forslag til regulering av streikeretten i EPO - Den europeisk patentorganisasjonen<br /><br />Vi viser til henvendelse av 24. juni [2013] vedr. ovenfor nevnte.<br /><br />Retten til å streike er regulert i flere internasjonale instrumenter som Norge har ratifisert, bl a ILO konvensjon nr 87 og nr 98 om retten til å organiseres seg og drive kollektive forhandlinger og Europa-rådets sosialpakt. Streikeretten ses som en naturlig og nødvendig følge av retten til å organisere seg og drive kollektive forhandlinger. Streik er imidlertid et kraftig virkemiddel og retten er derfor ikke absolutt. Adgangen til å streike og begrensningene i streikeretten har utviklet seg over tid og er nærmere definert av ILO og Europarådets ekspertkomiteer.<br /><br />AD er ikke kjent med hvorvidt internasjonale organisasjoner har regulert streikeretten nærmere. I utgangspunktet vil vi ikke tro at dette er særlig vanlig fordi dette griper inn i et område som naturlig faller innenfor arbeidsgiver- og arbeidstakerorganisasjonenes forhandlingsområde. AD er derfor skeptisk både til en løsning med en administrativ regulering og til innholdet som ved en kjapp gjennomlesning synes ytterst tvilsom om er i samsvar med gjeldende internasjonale konvensjoner.<br /><br />Vårt forslag vil være at Norge ber om mer info vedr. hvordan streikeretten er formulert i andre organisasjoner og at EPO ikke tar stilling til forslaget på det nåværende tidspunkt. En naturlig samarbeidspartner for administrasjonen i EPO ville være ILO office i Genève.</i><br /><br />There is a bit of hedging in the tone of the answer, which suggests the postponement of the decision until more facts are known, and tries to kick the issue to ILO, but the implication is clear.<br /><br />The Dutch MPs' question #10 also makes reference to ILO convention 87. My take is that ALL delegations, Dutch and British included, voted on this and other proposals, with full knowledge of the background and implications, and that the IPO's posture in this matter is somewhat disingenuous, to say the least.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-14629367351088222562015-03-02T13:01:33.633+00:002015-03-02T13:01:33.633+00:00Anon 1222,
No need for Google (other translation W...Anon 1222,<br />No need for Google (other translation Web sites are available) as suepo provided a translation to en fr de in a note of 26.02.2015 at suepo.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-42554569191702994912015-03-02T12:32:15.472+00:002015-03-02T12:32:15.472+00:00"Can anybody think of how it may be in the in..."Can anybody think of how it may be in the interest of the EPO to abuse human rights?<br />Thus, the AC must remove the imunity of the EPO, wehn the president fails to do so. "<br /><br />How about the AC removing the immunity of the President ??????Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-60226690325203898342015-03-02T12:22:42.015+00:002015-03-02T12:22:42.015+00:00The "Anzegging" can be accessed here:
ht...The "Anzegging" can be accessed here:<br />http://www.suepo.org/archive/su15090cp.pdf<br /><br />Google Translate gives a reasonable translation into English.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-25998394637432426792015-03-02T09:54:30.593+00:002015-03-02T09:54:30.593+00:00Article 19(2)
The President of the European Patent...Article 19(2)<br />The President of the European Patent Office has the duty to waive immunity where he considers that such immunity prevents the normal course of justice and that it is possible to dispense with such immunity without prejudicing the interests of the Organisation. The Administrative Council may waive immunity of the President for the same reasons. <br /><br />Article 20(1)<br />The Organisation shall co-operate at all times with the competent authorities of the Contracting States in order to facilitate the proper administration of justice, to ensure the observance of police regulations and regulations concerning public health, labour inspection or other similar national legislation, and to prevent any abuse of the privileges, immunities and facilities provided for in this Protocol.<br /><br />Can anybody think of how it may be in the interest of the EPO to abuse human rights?<br />Thus, the AC must remove the imunity of the EPO, wehn the president fails to do so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-61016573040466656762015-03-01T14:34:58.424+00:002015-03-01T14:34:58.424+00:00> indirect parliamentary election (for Senate, ...> indirect parliamentary election (for Senate, i.e. First Chamber)<br /><br />These are very important elections since the First Chamber has veto right over law proposals of the Second Chamber, which cannot be overruled. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-83895848080638848562015-02-28T22:34:21.486+00:002015-02-28T22:34:21.486+00:00Two members of parliament have now posed questions...Two members of parliament have now posed questions to the Dutch minister of justice (see <a href="https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kv-tk-2015Z03533.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>).<br /><br />An imperfect translation:<br /><br />Question 1. Are you aware of the Volkskrant article?<br /><br />Question 2. Do you remember the earlier questions regarding the working conditions at the EPO? Is it true that the tense situation continues to exist, including the restriction of the right to strike?<br /><br />Question 3. Is it true that the EPO refuses to revoke the controversial measures in accordance with the appeal court's judgment? If yes, what are the reasons therefor?<br /><br />Question 4. Is it true that you are not willing to enable the judgment's execution as is usual in The Netherlands? If yes, can you explain your position? What is the legal basis of your power to prevent the judgment's execution? How often have you made use of this power in the last five years?<br /><br />Question 5. On which legislation and international treaties does your decision to block the judgment's execution rely? Have you considered a more dynamic application of the existing legislation?<br /><br />Question 6. Can you give an overview of recent European and Dutch jurisprudence relating to conflicts between immunity of international organisations and judgments of domestic courts?<br /><br />Question 7. What is your reaction to the opinion of experts that your position is at odds with the rule of law and that you prioritise immunity over human rights? What is your reaction to the statement that this erodes the authority of the courts? What is your reaction to the statement that this leads to a further worsening of the existing problem of international organisations that place themselves above the law?<br /><br />Question 8. What do you mean when you say that the matter has "our attention" and "that of other member states"? What does this attention consist of and what is it aimed at?<br /><br />Question 9. Is it possible that one of the parties appeals to the Hoge Raad (Dutch Supreme Court) or that "cassation in the interest of the law" is requested? Do you intend to request cassation in the interest of the law?<br /><br />Question 10. Have you taken note of the recent <a href="http://www.ituc-csi.org/right-to-strike-re-affirmed-at-ilo?lang=en" rel="nofollow">ILO agreement</a> between employers and employees regarding the right to strike and <a href="http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C087" rel="nofollow">ILO Convention 87</a>? Can you explain how the situation at the EPO relates to ILO Convention 87?<br /><br />Both members are from the Labour Party (PvdA) that currently forms a coalition government with the Liberal Party (VVD). In July 2014 they posed the earlier questions referred to in Question 2 above. Those were <a href="https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/ah-tk-20132014-2718.html" rel="nofollow">answered</a> in August. The answered mainly referred to the EPO's immunity and the possibility for its employees to appeal to the ILOAT. Interestingly, the minister of social affairs answering those questions did seem to agree, referring to Art. 20 PPI, that the EPO should comply with relevent Dutch legislation. However, the labour inspection could do nothing without permission of the EPO's president.<br /><br />Maybe the next series of questions can raise the possibility of international arbitration (Art. 23(1) PPI).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-43936978830309451682015-02-28T22:05:57.828+00:002015-02-28T22:05:57.828+00:00"Have answers been given ?"
You might b..."Have answers been given ?"<br /><br />You might be waiting a wee while ...<br /><br />The last time Kerstens and Maij submitted questions in the Dutch Parliament about the "French despot" (as he was called in De Telegraaf) on 1 July 2014. <br />The answers from the Minister were published on 15 August.<br /><br />http://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/kamervragen/detail?id=2014Z12450&did=2014D28306Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-29209497987260770732015-02-28T18:32:14.501+00:002015-02-28T18:32:14.501+00:00The Socialist party in the Netherlands has publish...The Socialist party in the Netherlands has published a commentary entitled "Government must not permit human rights abuses".<br /><br />It is available in English here:<br />http://international.sp.nl/news/2015/02/sp-government-must-not-permit-human-rights-abusesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-21208338187817681472015-02-28T16:02:57.939+00:002015-02-28T16:02:57.939+00:00TreatyNotifier said... "the decision must be ...<br />TreatyNotifier said... "the decision must be published in the staatscourant" (https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl)"<br /><br />and yes, questions are being asked ...<br /><br />https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kv-tk-2015Z03533.pdf<br /><br />Have answers been given ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-23012764825687934322015-02-28T12:42:44.181+00:002015-02-28T12:42:44.181+00:00Note the statement : "Dat laat onverlet dat d...Note the statement : "Dat laat onverlet dat de situatie onze aandacht en die van andere lidstaten heeft.'" Some kind of hidden threat, that the situation has the attention of the memberstates ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-44883537522340414042015-02-28T12:39:08.295+00:002015-02-28T12:39:08.295+00:00nothing said yet about R2/14?
see https://register...nothing said yet about R2/14?<br />see https://register.epo.org/application?documentId=EW70Z3VX6667684&number=EP99965105&lng=en&npl=falseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-13831936052744149782015-02-28T01:25:58.526+00:002015-02-28T01:25:58.526+00:00Likewise for the UKIPO. Its performance related pa...Likewise for the UKIPO. Its performance related pay regime, where a significant element of pay is linked to the office meeting ministerial targets, has resulted in one of the lowest "engagement indexes" in the civil service, and one of the highest sick absence rates. Then there was the farcical situation a couple of years ago of the office meeting all Ministerial Targets except "engagement index", and because this was one of the Ministerial Targets, staff were financially penalized for being unhappy with their work situation. The engagement index figure did improve the following year, but I do wonder whether this was a consequence of a genuine improvement, or the staff realizing that to give true comments on their feelings would be akin to turkeys voting for Christmas. ex-examinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-77493817956410064412015-02-27T18:13:16.225+00:002015-02-27T18:13:16.225+00:00Anon at 16:47:00 GMT
If you ever wondered what wo...Anon at 16:47:00 GMT<br /><br />If you ever wondered what would be the outcome of BB's changes look here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/07/31/inside-the-stressed-out-time-crunched-patent-examiner-workforce/<br /><br />That is quality made in USA.<br /><br /><br />The Insidious InsiderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-11942197853211995552015-02-27T16:47:02.246+00:002015-02-27T16:47:02.246+00:00Anon 1805,
"Quality at the EPO has never been...Anon 1805,<br />"Quality at the EPO has never been better!"<br />Indeed, ever since BB replaced the previous head of internal audit (and removed the external audit), the internal audit of quality (used to form the figures) has shown ever improving levels of quality. A happy coincidence no doubt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-75396482116416414082015-02-27T16:25:28.520+00:002015-02-27T16:25:28.520+00:00The SZ article in on page 19 of the ePaper edition...The SZ article in on page 19 of the ePaper edition over the byline of Christopher Schrader with the title "Recht haben und recht bekommen". <br /><br />It concludes with:<br /><br /><i>Was weiter passiert, ist unklar. Einerseits kann das Patentamt zur nächsten Instanz gehen,dem obersten Gericht der Niederlande. Andererseits überlegt die Anwältin Liesbeth Zegveld, nun den Staat zu verklagen, der ihrer Meinung nach die eigene Justiz behindert. Womöglich könnte eine ähnliche Klage vor deutschen Gerichten Erfolg haben. „Die Staaten in Europa, auch Deutschland, hätten dem Abkommen über das Europäische Patentamt niemals zustimmen dürfen“, sagt der ehemalige Verfassungsrichter <a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegfried_Bro%C3%9F#Bundesverfassungsrichter" rel="nofollow">Siegfried Broß</a>, „weil es die Grund- und Menschenrechte der Angestellten zur Disposition der Amtsleitung stellt.“</i><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-18798587158420869262015-02-27T13:36:52.333+00:002015-02-27T13:36:52.333+00:00"Apart, of course, from bringing the rather h..."Apart, of course, from bringing the rather hidden newspaper article to the attention of other Dutch news sources."<br /><br />The article is not as hidden as you might think.<br /><br />Just Google "Opstelten" and "EOO" (Europese Octrooi Organisatie) and you will find that the news has travelled.<br /><br />My favourite:<br />Opstelten (VVD): Ik weet het beter dan de rechter<br />http://www.joop.nl/politiek/detail/artikel/30972_opstelten_vvd_weet_het_beter_dan_de_rechter/<br /><br />Apart from that, the Dutch SP is making political mileage out of the affair:<br /><b>"SP: Regering mag mensenrechtenschending niet toelaten"</b><br />https://www.sp.nl/nieuws/2015/02/sp-regering-mag-mensenrechtenschending-niet-toelaten<br /><br />In the meantime, the German Süddeutsche had an article today (27 Feb) which contained claims of political interference in judicial matters. So the story has crossed the borders ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-50816331670147005842015-02-27T12:45:29.397+00:002015-02-27T12:45:29.397+00:00No representation without taxation!No representation without taxation!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-34665428657864427352015-02-27T12:44:55.891+00:002015-02-27T12:44:55.891+00:00As the non-Dutch expats are not allowed to vote in...As the non-Dutch expats are not allowed to vote in the upcoming "Provinciale Staten" election which is an indirect parliamentary election (for Senate, i.e. First Chamber), there is not much they can do in this respect. <br />Apart, of course, from bringing the rather hidden newspaper article to the attention of other Dutch news sources, and thus showing the Dutch what their minister of Justice thinks about human rights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-17751081712612519902015-02-27T12:21:22.955+00:002015-02-27T12:21:22.955+00:00In the EU european expats are entitled to vote on ...In the EU european expats are entitled to vote on the local level (community) and one above that. On the national level only in the home country. On the European level either in rpthe country of residence or in the home country, not both.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-28492128008756298282015-02-27T10:48:37.584+00:002015-02-27T10:48:37.584+00:00Anon 10:35:
Only one? What colour is it? Blue? or...Anon 10:35:<br /><br />Only one? What colour is it? Blue? or Green?<br /><br />A Dutch national will receive two: a blue one for the parliamentary election and a green one for the local waterschap (if it's being elected).<br /><br />Do you have both?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-16063642272849274742015-02-27T10:35:43.934+00:002015-02-27T10:35:43.934+00:00Anon 0933,
Wrong. I have received my Stempas which...Anon 0933,<br />Wrong. I have received my Stempas which means I can vote.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com