tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post7904113289326081625..comments2024-03-18T17:10:35.838+00:00Comments on The IPKat: Enlarged Board publishes decision: EPO President violated judicial independenceVerónica Rodríguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger361125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-35591723387015327352016-11-14T22:29:21.517+00:002016-11-14T22:29:21.517+00:00Board 28 meets this week. Any agenda?
Boards of Ap...Board 28 meets this week. Any agenda?<br />Boards of Appeal Committee meets for the first time on 28.11? Anyone know if they are discussing Haar? Or the disciplinary case?? Is the first a fait accompli and the second perhaps another chance to re-open matters?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-61279398800690870432016-11-12T21:05:12.340+00:002016-11-12T21:05:12.340+00:00Scouser says
Morale will only improve when law, j...Scouser says<br /><br />Morale will only improve when law, justice and the framework for mutual respect and fairplay are restored at the EPO. There is no excuse for those with the highest of authority not to remove this toxic Enarque and his clique. The country responsible for this toxic entryism at the EPO should <br />now financially and morally support all those victims, including Laurent, who have suffered at the hands of the Enarquien tyrant. A disgrace to the ENA, a disgrace to Europe....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-74079470989912140152016-11-07T11:12:03.002+00:002016-11-07T11:12:03.002+00:00Where is Merpel?
Merpel is here:
"Firings w...<i>Where is Merpel?</i><br /><br />Merpel is here:<br /><br /><a href="http://ipkitten.blogspot.de/2016/11/firings-will-continue-until-morale.html" rel="nofollow">"Firings will continue until morale improves - Merpel revisits the EPO"</a>Mondaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-32381194595958174192016-11-07T09:25:44.149+00:002016-11-07T09:25:44.149+00:00Where is Merpel?Where is Merpel?Proof of the puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14209291532431506713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-84497801657887518642016-11-07T06:56:54.118+00:002016-11-07T06:56:54.118+00:00Battistelli mental health gives reasons to worry.
...<i>Battistelli mental health gives reasons to worry.</i><br /><br />Nonsense. This is the behavior of a perfectly sane ... bully.<br /><br />Denied his last "reforms" by the AC - in particular new disciplinary measures whose <a href="http://www.ip-watch.org/2016/10/18/epo-staff-welcome-withdrawal-unpopular-disciplinary-proposals/" rel="nofollow">withdrawal has been welcomed by the staff</a> - Mr. Battistelli with the firing of a further staff representative - <a href="http://www.ip-watch.org/2016/10/18/epo-staff-welcome-withdrawal-unpopular-disciplinary-proposals/#comment-14841388" rel="nofollow">against an explicit request of the AC in March not to do so </a> - reminds the AC who is Boss here.<br /><br />The most worrying thing is that, by doing so, Mr. Battistelli does not give a s*#t to further tarnish the reputation of the Office, and in particular of the AC that clearly looks like has no control on him. His personal goals are more important than the reputation of the Organization he's presiding.<br /><br />As even IAM <a href="https://twitter.com/IAM_magazine/status/795181264999514113" rel="nofollow">acknowledges</a> "If the reports are accurate – and that is not certain given all the agendas – this does look like a needless own goal.”<br /><br />Yes: a man with such a childish behavior controls an International Organization with a budget of 2 billion euros.<br /><br />Ah, and at the next AC in December, the fate of the suspended member of the BoA must also be decided.Et sinon je reprendrais bien des croquettesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-9223614605982666852016-11-06T19:43:20.993+00:002016-11-06T19:43:20.993+00:00It's a shame. Another elected staff representa...It's a shame. Another elected staff representative has been dismissed, the third now. He is not allowed to speak about the whole procedure as he would risk the loss of his pensions rights by telling details. Reminds me of a totalitarian regime. And nobody seems to care (apart from a few people).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-19915024930174291542016-11-06T13:52:35.365+00:002016-11-06T13:52:35.365+00:00What the Register, Techrights and French MPs seem ...What the Register, Techrights and French MPs seem to forget is that:<br />-the dismissed person was already unable to do any union work, he has been sick for months. Dismissing him makes no sense whatsoever.<br />-the timing is strange, right after the administrative council budget committee showed little support for Battistelli and (that part was already reported) after the council clearly asked for no more dismissals.<br />-the timing is also strange because the so-called "social conference" restarts to morrow Monday. I know few people are convinced that the "social conference" is little more than an exercise in propaganda, but announcing a dismissal right before there are talks with the staff seems peculiar to say the least.<br /><br />Some people say (in private) that Battistelli mental health gives reasons to worry. I don't know whether that is true, but maybe now is the time to ask the question.Distressednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-23680722182922481072016-11-05T12:29:17.956+00:002016-11-05T12:29:17.956+00:00Blundering forward says...
AC: "Of course, B...Blundering forward says...<br /><br />AC: "Of course, BB and his VP's always look forward to the day when they can do a big courtroom case!"<br /><br />SR: " Each in the BB team seem to have two perfectly good legs but, however, they have never learned to walk forward"<br /><br />PwC: " If we can't begin to agree on fundamentals such as the elimination of the most abusive forms of staff reps, then we are not ready to march forward into the future."<br /><br />BoA: " Dismissal is never the way forward on our shared path to free speech and justice"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-12313006006938376862016-11-05T10:40:33.090+00:002016-11-05T10:40:33.090+00:00The Register: Fresh Euro Patent Office drama: King...The Register: <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/11/04/king_battistelli_fires_epo_union_boss/" rel="nofollow">Fresh Euro Patent Office drama: King Battistelli fires union boss - EPO president ignores his own admin council</a>The Pressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-16344262885602939832016-11-04T16:40:05.047+00:002016-11-04T16:40:05.047+00:00Now we know how much respect the President has for...<i>Now we know how much respect the President has for the council. Next he'll probably fire them... </i><br /><br />Not a chance. They'll be fine as long as they keep kissing his a** !cynicus maximusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-42770577796082716682016-11-04T14:14:42.649+00:002016-11-04T14:14:42.649+00:00A further union représentative was fired this morn...A further union représentative was fired this morning... purely by coincidence would Minnoye say.<br /><br />Now we know how much respect the President has for the council. Next he'll probably fire them...Distressednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-52732075127883895122016-11-02T21:13:37.468+00:002016-11-02T21:13:37.468+00:00-and there is really no real control of the financ...<i>-and there is really no real control of the finances of a PUBLIC body which produces hundreds of millions euros every year? Did I hear that correctly?</i><br /><br />The figure is 2 billion euros.<br /><br />And there is <b>real control</b> - by Big Ben himself, El Presidente.<br />You can't get much realer than that.<br /><br />So what exactly is your problem pussy-cat?<br />Kojaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-91642692477320747442016-11-02T17:04:39.635+00:002016-11-02T17:04:39.635+00:00Apparently my post from last week went lost...
An...Apparently my post from last week went lost...<br /><br />Anyway, the real question is how long is this supposed to last? It is becoming quite clear that quite a few problems are still open:<br />-the one cited in this article: is this all what is going to happen? The President can dismiss a board of appeal member (or put it in a legal limbo, which is effectively the same thing) at will and violate judicial independence and... that's it?<br />-the one with the dismissed union representatives: they are just out and that's it? They are not going to be reintegrated?<br />-the ridiculous resettlement of the boards. Really?<br />-and there is really no real control of the finances of a PUBLIC body which produces hundreds of millions euros every year? Did I hear that correctly?<br /><br />Am I the only one to wonder?Questionsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-9364086737713778632016-10-31T08:56:38.129+00:002016-10-31T08:56:38.129+00:00Yes the German delegation seems to be playing a do...Yes the German delegation seems to be playing a double game here.<br />During the June assembly they did not make any criticism of the planned move.<br /><br />The only delegations that criticised or questioned the proposal were as follows.<br /> <br /><br />Switzerland<br />"The boards' location falls within the EPO President's powers. In the redesigned framework, the BOA President would also play a role, by drawing up their budget. Only via the budget can the Council exercise direct influence. So this is not a formal request either; we are merely pointing out that in our opinion the boards' location has no bearing on their independence. The Swiss delegation is therefore not prepared to agree to any spending on relocating the boards, and suggests leaving them where they are."<br /><br />Ireland<br />"Relocation: Ireland believes that a separate location for the boards of appeal is neither justified nor required. Users have already expressed the view that<br />the boards are considered to be independent from the rest of the Office and the fact that the boards are physically located in the Isar building does not<br />impinge on their independence. It seems that even a relocation within Munich would give rise to unnecessary expense and my delegation cannot see that the expenditure associated with such a move could be justified."<br /><br />Austria<br />"As far as relocating the boards was concerned, those most immediately affected, i.e.BOA members and users, would have to agree. And the cost – even in the<br />Munich area – would also have to be taken into account."<br /><br />Netherlands<br />There was no point relocating the boards, as proposed in Section C of CA/43/16; this would merely waste money.<br /><br />Slovakia<br />"The Office's relocation proposal was certainly better than the original one, but even such a move should still be presented to the Budget and Finance Committee for opinion, because it would cost a lot of money."<br /><br />Czech Republic<br />"Lastly, on the relocation issue it agreed with earlier speakers. This was more an internal management issue, and should be uncoupled from the<br />independence question. But if the majority was in favour of a move, it would oppose it."<br /><br />Bulgaria<br />"Relocation did not seem essential, and the costs involved should be looked into."<br /><br />Denmark<br />"Lastly, it was certainly not convinced that relocating the boards – whether in Munich or the vicinity – would make them look more independent."<br /><br />Two facednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-64638660691692395472016-10-30T21:14:39.899+00:002016-10-30T21:14:39.899+00:00Re. Art. 36 EPC (weighing of votes):
Germany did ...Re. Art. 36 EPC (weighing of votes): <br />Germany did not vote no in the Budget and Finance Committee...<br />I assume, Munich is happy that another building is now in use, thus earning taxes.<br />As a side effect, more of the EPO money is leeched towards Germany.<br /><br />Without the Garman vote, the weighing will be very close against the mass of smaller countries coming to the Administrative Council meeting in December (meeting 150! time for a fancy dinner!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-2129046537594747592016-10-30T12:22:14.729+00:002016-10-30T12:22:14.729+00:00Atlas Obscura says..
The EPO is for sure a magic ...Atlas Obscura says..<br /><br />The EPO is for sure a magic place with its 365 day/year Halloween, leave-no-trace social conferences and its alien AC support forces. Happy Halloween! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-6222071791664711212016-10-29T12:19:09.016+01:002016-10-29T12:19:09.016+01:00It seems to me that this is a case in which weight...It seems to me that this is a case in which weighting of votes in accordance with Article 36 EPC would be justified.<br /><br /><b>Weighting of votes</b><br />(1) In respect of the adoption or amendment of the Rules relating to Fees and, if the financial contribution to be made by the Contracting States would thereby be increased, the adoption of the budget of the Organisation and of <b>any amending or supplementary budget</b>, any Contracting State may require, following a first ballot in which each Contracting State shall have one vote, and whatever the result of this ballot, that a second ballot be taken immediately, in which votes shall be given to the States in accordance with paragraph 2. The decision shall be determined by the result of this second ballot.<br /><br />I wonder if the AC delegates have actually read the rule book?<br /><br />http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/epc/2016/e/ar36.htmlMr. Bean Counternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-91848907689573344812016-10-29T11:30:19.359+01:002016-10-29T11:30:19.359+01:00Magic at the EPO says...
BoA: To the great silent...Magic at the EPO says...<br /><br />BoA: To the great silent majority of the B28 and AC we ask your support.<br />BB: Hmmm...the Silent Majority is a phase used by Homer to describe the dead!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-28086840424072133202016-10-28T14:10:22.098+01:002016-10-28T14:10:22.098+01:00the Budget & Finance Committee of the Admin Co...<i>the Budget & Finance Committee of the Admin Council has approved the "resettlement" of the Boards of Appeal to Haar.</i><br /><br /><br />13 votes in favour, 8 against and 15 abstentions.<br /><br />It seems that 63% of the voters do not agree with the move of the BoA to Haar.<br /><br />Abstentions, however, are not taken into consideration when counting the votes.<br /><br />The move to Haar, therefore, has been approved by 61% of the voters.<br /><br />Magic at the EPO!<br />Pre-filled ballotsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-20264595297486714562016-10-26T20:03:13.659+01:002016-10-26T20:03:13.659+01:00Latest HR trend says...
Publishing new Euro contr...Latest HR trend says...<br /><br />Publishing new Euro contract vacancies and forcing at the same time Eponians to leave their permanent positions for the sake of gaining excessive HR control (temporary contracts and probation periods galore!). Trust me I am your HR manager!... see you at the next social conference. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-44003541976539277742016-10-26T13:14:52.330+01:002016-10-26T13:14:52.330+01:00Latest news from is that the Budget & Finance ...Latest news from is that the Budget & Finance Committee of the Admin Council has approved the "resettlement" of the Boards of Appeal to Haar.Breaking newsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-36244406125964310532016-10-26T10:42:52.506+01:002016-10-26T10:42:52.506+01:00"largesses and election campaign": the E...<i>"largesses and election campaign": the EPO is a public administration. That would be embezzlement. Surely, there must be some rules and controls of the finances? </i><br /><br />Dream on. The Administrative Council abolished its Audit Committee back in 2011 (about a year or so after it had been set up ...).<br />http://techrights.org/2014/10/31/brimelow-and-battistelli/<br /><br />But yes, there are "rules and controls of the finances".<br />There's even an "internal audit" department (which is mostly occupied with investigations against staff reps these days).<br /><br />And just for good measure, all internal audit functions are under the control of the President ...<br /><br />Honi soit qui mal y pense.Bismuthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-84497327771721991832016-10-26T10:00:05.506+01:002016-10-26T10:00:05.506+01:001: I am not saying the people already in are stupi...1: I am not saying the people already in are stupid, but that only stupid people would chose to work for the EPO today. Who is going to apply for a job under these conditions? Besides, there are plenty of "normal" employers looking for engineers in Munich, BMW for example. Don't you think it is a much smarter move to work for BMW, which will pay your pensions and where any experience you get will be valuable in your career than for the EPO? The pay is not that different, especially if one has a few years experience, which the EPO will not take into account. The question is therefore: how can the EPO expect to recruit?<br /><br />2: "largesses and election campaign": the EPO is a public administration. That would be embezzlement. Surely, there must be some rules and controls of the finances?Questionsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-23500118324576962772016-10-25T21:56:37.607+01:002016-10-25T21:56:37.607+01:00@ A Nonni Mouse
Don't forget that there's...@ A Nonni Mouse<br /><br />Don't forget that there's an election campaign coming up in France ...Bismuthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-2736917788697468952016-10-25T18:48:24.721+01:002016-10-25T18:48:24.721+01:00@Questions
1. Now you are beginning to understand...@Questions<br /><br />1. Now you are beginning to understand the problem. To be fair most of the people being fired joined long before these new rules applied so I don't think you can call them stupid.<br /><br />2. Don't forget that this largesse is in the hands of the President. So... Bonuses to the wonderful senior management to start. National offices will be able to find something to do with what is left over. A Nonni Mousenoreply@blogger.com