tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post7864784686121555170..comments2024-03-18T17:10:35.838+00:00Comments on The IPKat: Merpel prowls further around the corridors of the EPOVerónica Rodríguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-28126165375714564372016-06-18T13:00:35.041+01:002016-06-18T13:00:35.041+01:00
Indeed. Those examination dossiers where the appl...<br />Indeed. Those examination dossiers where the applicant would not get a refund due to a first communication already having been sent are priority 2. The first action blocking a refund is, IMHO, a trigger for a higher priority I can stand behind.<br />Finish startes files instead of having as many started as possible, which seemed to be the priority for some of my colleagues.<br /><br />If you ask for accelerated, or when the next comm. can be expected, the file is lifted up to priority 1.Having a headache from the construction noisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-88149397300406777002016-06-17T14:55:29.853+01:002016-06-17T14:55:29.853+01:00Meldrew,
I too have seen an increase in re-surfac...Meldrew,<br /><br />I too have seen an increase in re-surfacing zombies, generally where there has been an exam report many years ago. Often the exam report just required a response to a PCT Written Opinion, in the days before the present Rule 161.<br /><br />As I understand it, such zombies would be priority 2 under ECfS, above starting new examinations. Presumably this is why Examiners are able to allocate time to them.<br />Tim Jacksonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-17541479313025497272016-06-17T10:06:19.793+01:002016-06-17T10:06:19.793+01:00Anonymous 17:26
Some further thoughts.
A big jum...Anonymous 17:26<br /><br />Some further thoughts.<br /><br />A big jump in grants will lead to a big jump in oppositions, even without any change in "quality" of decisions to grant.<br /><br />Oppositions, I understand, are priority 1, even more so after the proposed changes to procedure. <br /><br />And yet I am seeing an increasing number of zombie applications [more than 10 years old] being brought into examination, sometimes with an examiner amendment on a Rule 71(3) notice. How are you finding time to deal with the long tail of old applications? Meldrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09841440718012449720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-26960181582177878972016-06-16T00:32:07.299+01:002016-06-16T00:32:07.299+01:00Anonymous 17:26
Thank you for the clear and infor...Anonymous 17:26<br /><br />Thank you for the clear and informative explanation. That makes sense.Meldrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09841440718012449720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1313837746429453432016-06-15T17:26:09.143+01:002016-06-15T17:26:09.143+01:00Meldrew,
A partial explanation... Grants actually ...Meldrew,<br />A partial explanation... Grants actually reflect work done 7-8 months previously as the decision to grant is based on the intention to grant delayed by time for translation and any amendments. Thus the current 'surge' is actually a surge taking place in early 2015.<br />That relates to a time when Early Certainty From Search started and examiners dossier management system prioritised search over examination. With one exception! Grants could be made immediately even if they were low ranked and the system identified files which were possibly ready for grant based on the info supplied for ESOP or WOISA. In order to reach targets examiners thus took this option and, in effect, non-grantable files became secondary at best. Priority was search and grant. Examination had to wait for search deadlines (priority 1) to be met. This may change soon so the apparent surge may not continue. Indeed, at some point examiners will have to do the examinations as priorities will change. But in the meantime the examination work is skewed to grant rather than further communications, even if the applicant has amended and feels it is ready for grant the examiner must deal with highly ranked files - legal search deadlines etc. - first and is not allowed to choose lower files. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-9718795352567460552016-06-15T15:31:32.644+01:002016-06-15T15:31:32.644+01:00After a few years following the development within...After a few years following the development within the EPO under Battistell(BB) as President and Jesper Kongstad (JK) as chairman of the Administrative Council (AC) I come to the conclusion that only the representatives of the big countries in the AC (NL,DE,GB,FR,CH,IT,SP) can stop this disasterous development by demanding very strongly a diplomatic conference as forseen in the EPC. BB and JK are big friends. It is the tactics of this ¨team¨ BB and the AC with chief JK and with many BB-friends in the group of representatives of the small countries, to demand from BB as AC things to do and not do and when BB is doing nothing the AC is also doing nothing. This theatre should have been stopped already a long time ago.Kilroy was herenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-75848188260396140192016-06-15T14:27:16.437+01:002016-06-15T14:27:16.437+01:00You might find this interesting.
There is a boun...You might find <a href="http://ipnoncredere.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/high-how-will-ball-bounce.html" rel="nofollow">this</a> interesting. <br /><br />There is a bouncing ball that might be spun in different ways. Meldrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09841440718012449720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-41393987999783067222016-06-15T10:07:10.828+01:002016-06-15T10:07:10.828+01:00Incredible. All 5 of "The IPKat's most-re...Incredible. All 5 of "The IPKat's most-read posts in the past 30 days" are EPO related.<br /><br />And yet...<br /><br />Thank you, my beloved Kittens!Having a Headache from the construction noisenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-52628093318607528702016-06-14T17:00:13.020+01:002016-06-14T17:00:13.020+01:00"Afraid of SUEPO's bullying"? Seriou..."Afraid of SUEPO's bullying"? Seriously? Nah. SUEPO were fairly clownish by union standards,and of course there were a couple of hotheads, but telling them to get lost was inconsequential.<br /><br />However,and however irritating they could be, they still held the management to account, and it was the management's fault that they never really engaged with SUEPO. <br /><br />But SUEPO, and especially some individuals within it, have stepped up to the plate and deserve respect for the way they have behaved in the face of BB's determined authoritarianism, nepotism,and dismantling of the EPO. And employees support them because of this stand,and the recognition that SUEPO is being targetted because they are tellingthe truth. No bullying required.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-36516334213812585942016-06-12T15:46:01.781+01:002016-06-12T15:46:01.781+01:00Anonymous at 23:00 hrs. is pure Battistelli- manag...Anonymous at 23:00 hrs. is pure Battistelli- management talk to me. These thousends of people in the EPO protesting in the streets are ¨more frightened of the bullying tactics of the big Union (SUEPO) than they are to be fired for misconduct¨? What a nonsence! <br /><br />The newly revised investigation guidelines look quite good actually as attested by a report from a senior UN official. Who is this person selected by team Battistelli ? A neutral person able to attest the newly revised investigation guidelines neutrally by a report? What is his name so that we know more about him.<br /> <br />In my many many years in the EPO we never got ¨presents for free just by sitting on our chair¨ and we were regularly assessed by director, principal director and top-management. Anonymous at 23:00 hrs should know that.<br /><br />It seems that Anonymous at 23:00 hrs has not seen the reform of sick leave and invalidity which is a severe attack against both dignity and fundamental rights of people in the EPO.<br /> <br />Porsche's, BMW's and Merc's can not be allowed in the SUEPO demonstrations. Also the bicycle of Battistelli and the imported car of VP4 Mr Zeljko Topic are not welcome.<br />Kilroy was herenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-81190046929464796202016-06-11T17:57:33.658+01:002016-06-11T17:57:33.658+01:00Obviously anonymous at 23:00 has not read the resu...Obviously anonymous at 23:00 has not read the results of the staff survey where 0% staff (meaning not even the management) trusts Battistelli. Staff is afraid, under a lot of stress and pressure. 10% are even in psychological distress. If anonymous works at the EPO, then he does not seem to care about rights, ethics and fairness. Sounds quite like management talk to me. EPO staff were never and are certainly not lazy. They work hard and well - at least they try their best under the current situation. And they are continuously told that they achieved a lot but should produce x% more (x being 6, 10 or more...). Their efforts to maintain quality and service to the public need to be acknowledged. The SUEPO and staff rep also deserve to be praised for their work in this awful situation.cooperate or ...noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-37535330576971287432016-06-09T12:05:18.135+01:002016-06-09T12:05:18.135+01:00To anonymous at 23.00.
I find your post curious. ...To anonymous at 23.00.<br /><br />I find your post curious. On the one hand you seem to have knowledge of some "new" investigation guidelines, which seems to imply that you are an insider of some kind. On the other hand you repeat the lie that until Battistelli's "reforms" employees were paid to do nothing and promotion had a nothing to do with merit. If you are an insider you know that this is not true. Merit (productivity, quality, aptitude and attitude) had a very strong effect on promotion. Yes, seniority was taken into account as it is everywhere, to reflect experience. Nothing wrong with that. And, pray tell, where did the EPO get its former global reputation when staffed by idle good-for-nothings who just had to turn up and sit on their chairs to earn vast amounts of money. <br /><br />The truth is that in the pre-BB era not only did we work hard, but we knew we were privileged, and the prevailing ethos was one of delivering the best possible quality and service to our colleagues and to the public in return for that privilege. This ethos was also supported by management. Unfortunately this ethos has been destroyed by the actions of the President. The only opposition to the destruction of the EPO is SUEPO. If it were indeed the case that all the staff care about is money then there would be no support for SUEPO's actions. You imply that EPO employees should just take the money, keep their heads down and collaborate with the destruction of everything they have dedicated their working life to. <br /><br />SUEPO has no power or means to intimidate anyone. Instead the very brave few who try to fight for the EPO as it was are subject to the most fearsome sanctions. <br /><br />To the previous "anonymous", Nigel Farage is usually seen with a pint of beer, not a coffee cup!superannnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-37492194148360506112016-06-08T23:21:07.758+01:002016-06-08T23:21:07.758+01:00
And the EPO is back again in the NL reputable pre...<br />And the EPO is back again in the NL reputable press : <br /><br />http://www.nrc.nl/next/2016/06/09/priveoorlog-topman-en-bond-octrooibureau-nog-niet-1626193Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-28684514367291463802016-06-08T23:00:12.195+01:002016-06-08T23:00:12.195+01:00Many people in the EPO are more frightened of the ...Many people in the EPO are more frightened of the bullying tactics of the big Union than they are to be fired for misconduct. The newly revised investigation guidelines look quite good actually and appear to pass the test of benchmarking with other international organisations quite well as attested by a report from a senior UN official in charge of investigations there. <br /><br />It's true that now you have to actually work to deserve a step and promotion in the EPO. No more presents for free just by sitting on your chair but isn't that normal everywhere else? <br /><br />How many people have actually been controlled for sickness last year according to the new rules? 20 maybe? Hoe excessive for an organisation of 7000 employees! <br /><br />Yeah, let's take the Porsche's, BMW's and Merc's to the demonstration at the spanish and portugese embassies. It will make a very big impression on these states so horribly hard hit by the economic crisis! It will also surely help convince them to stop their potential support for a pension or other reform for example. <br /><br />Or maybe, just maybe, when you earn a salary of 120k and above net after income taxes such as most senior examiners do you really don't have so much to complain about and should accept that salary raises don't come automatically any more for nobody. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-4742963871202172442016-06-08T00:05:33.200+01:002016-06-08T00:05:33.200+01:00Dr Roy Schestowtitz posted anything he could get h...Dr Roy Schestowtitz posted anything he could get his hands on from ipKat and in his latest 2+2 equals a conspiracy diatribe concluded that because ,,<br /><br />It was said,,,(said)<br /><br />"You're right, the results of the staff survey are truly appalling. The indicators of stress are almost off the scale."<br /><br />So lets do something really, really really radical,,,something that will make the world stand up and take this nonsense seriously, once and for all. Lets organise another demonstration and walk to the French and Spanish Emabssy's in our lunch times (private transport in your CD or BN plated car entirely at your own volition and you lucky ones can always claim that VAT you spend on petrol back at the end of the year - failing that a SUEPO bus will be available ) <br /><br />This should make he Admin Council quake in their boots and think oh oh oh,,,,,,,,,,shouldn't it?,,,,or should we just sit and wait till the 'lovely Sun Guvnor' finally leaves? <br /><br />that this is even more evidence of,,,,,,bla bla bla ,,,, Muppet,,,,,, <br /><br />Bet this one does not go onto his blog,,, The big smile,,,the coffee cup. Reminds me of Nigel Farage,,,,and ultimately ,,,has the same effectAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-4065801463468107722016-06-07T14:48:07.975+01:002016-06-07T14:48:07.975+01:00@HelloKitty: "And ipkat is censored from our ...<a href="http://ipkitten.blogspot.nl/2016/05/merpel-prowls-further-around-corridors.html?showComment=1465291475549#c3952208708170936018" rel="nofollow">@HelloKitty</a>: "And ipkat is censored from our Intranet as "malicious source" this morning."<br /><br />No, it isn't, at least not fully.<br />.de is, yes, even from The Hague. But I can access .nl and .co.uk from Rijswijk main.<br /><br />Therefore I cannot believe the "reason" being "malware/malnet"... The .nl and .co.uk sites are identical to the .de site, besides the url used.Having a headache from the construction work.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-30938465630803166362016-06-07T12:32:51.342+01:002016-06-07T12:32:51.342+01:00Hello kitty,
I think if you read the early certain...Hello kitty,<br />I think if you read the early certainty site you'll find that you're not allowed to discuss it with "third parties". <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-16383843022207248022016-06-07T11:15:30.762+01:002016-06-07T11:15:30.762+01:00Desperate needs lead to desperate deeds.Desperate needs lead to desperate deeds.Kilroy was herenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-39522087081709360182016-06-07T10:24:35.549+01:002016-06-07T10:24:35.549+01:00From: HelloKitty
Recent developments at the EPO a...From: HelloKitty<br /><br />Recent developments at the EPO are surrealistic. We have a project called "early certainty" to hire 800 examiners to tackle our backlog till 2020. We have CA56/16, which basically lets the President decide on your partner work, on any elected post one may seek, any other activity aside your work, etc... and makes it an offense to post on a public forum or to "damage the reputation of the Office". Also: the "investigation unit" is strengthened and there is a new difference betweenn dismissals for disciplinary reasons and for incompetence I do not understand. And ipkat is censored from our Intranet as "malicious source" this morning.<br /><br />What next?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-1382336577598011752016-06-06T22:20:45.101+01:002016-06-06T22:20:45.101+01:00It was said,,,
"You're right, the result...It was said,,,<br /><br />"You're right, the results of the staff survey are truly appalling. The indicators of stress are almost off the scale."<br /><br />So lets do something really, really really radical,,,something that will make the world stand up and take this nonsense seriously, once and for all. Lets organise another demonstration and walk to the French and Spanish Emabssy's in our lunch times (private transport in your CD or BN plated car entirely at your own volition and you lucky ones can always claim that VAT you spend on petrol back at the end of the year - failing that a SUEPO bus will be available ) <br /><br />This should make he Admin Council quake in their boots and think oh oh oh,,,,,,,,,,shouldn't it?,,,,or should we just sit and wait till the 'lovely Sun Guvnor' finally leaves?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-20420395582350421062016-06-02T16:54:26.951+01:002016-06-02T16:54:26.951+01:00But at least the customers are happy.
http://www.e...But at least the customers are happy.<br />http://www.epo.org/news-issues/news/2016/20160602a.htmlKantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-31766192461538453842016-06-02T11:09:35.281+01:002016-06-02T11:09:35.281+01:00@Anon
You're right, the results of the staff ...@Anon<br /><br />You're right, the results of the staff survey are truly appalling. The indicators of stress are almost off the scale. I wonder if the "social study" conducted by the EPO management will find any similar causes for concern?<br /><br />Without wishing to diminish the importance of the study on highlighting the current plight of EPO employees, I could not help but notice a few numbers that will (or at least should) give patent practitioners cause for alarm.<br /><br />In particular, it appears that only 30% of respondents believed that they were provided with the necessary time to perform their job correctly. This means that 7 out of every 10 respondents (66% of whom were from DG1) believe that they are not - at least not always - performing their job to the level that they would like. Combined with the multiple indicators pointing to concerns about a decrease in quality (e.g. over 90% of respondents believed that the importance according to quality has diminished within the last 3 years), this makes it pretty clear that practitioners are now dealing with an EPO that is marching swiftly down the road to a "quick and dirty" examination standard.<br /><br />All very well, but is that what the users want? I very much doubt it - especially as examination fees have certainly not decreased in recent years.Proof of the puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14209291532431506713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-43641981864287572962016-06-02T00:20:24.731+01:002016-06-02T00:20:24.731+01:00here the appalling results of the Technologia staf...<br />here the appalling results of the Technologia staff survey on psycho social risks :<br /><br />https://suepo.org/results_of_the_2016_european_patent_office_staff_survey/d-43311<br /><br />they illustrate Battistelli's mandate (2010 to 2016) and speak for themselvesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-20226352696058567602016-05-31T08:01:02.364+01:002016-05-31T08:01:02.364+01:00Al this leaves me with a question:
Is there anybo...Al this leaves me with a question: <br />Is there anybody who would know BB's bicycle from all the other bicycles present in the bicycle parking lot? Or does it carry a plate saying: I am BB's bicycle? Another question: Does he own the bicycle or is it EPO owned and is BB merely allowed to use it? If there really is really a bicycle at all..... One just wonders......Fritznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-91370944828898287632016-05-30T14:44:29.963+01:002016-05-30T14:44:29.963+01:00If there ever was any foul play (something which I...If there ever was any foul play (something which I mightily doubt) then the President ought to call in the police to conduct a proper investigation at the EPO, and not take matters in his own hands, or trust one of his creatures to spin some conspiracy theory.<br /><br />IIRC, there are precedents where the national police was allowed to enter the EPO offices for cases of petty theft. But on the other hand, from my own experience, it is nearly impossible to get a German policeman to lift his derrière from his chair for a case of theft or vandalism involving a mere bicycle.<br /><br />What does the President have to fear, if his allegations are true? He could hardly invoke his personal impunity, sorry, the EPOrg's immunity, to justify his barricading.<br /><br />A version of this sordid affair could become in a few years the canvas for an episode of the dreadful "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QENcN-srE0" rel="nofollow">Tatort</a>" series...<br />Hier spricht die Polente!https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/2_CV_Polente.JPGnoreply@blogger.com