Summary: Techrights to help SUEPO overthrow Battistelli's tyranny as one of its key goals in 2015

ENTERING OUR ninth year (the first was 2006), we are delighted to see increasing financial support from our followers and/or contributors. In previous years we vowed to fight against software patents. These were the top threat to freedom of software. Based on what makes the most positive and effective change we shall concentrate more on the EPO in pursuit of worldwide patent reform. Starting tomorrow (January first) we shall starting posting more frequently and deliver updates on a broader range of topics.

It is expected, based on this new article, that some of our supporters too will be more active. There will be more protests. To quote the report: "An “incremental” five-week strike at the European Patent Office (EPO) will end today (December 19) but certain workers have hinted at more action next year.

"Staff have been striking on various days over the last five weeks and every day this week.

"During the five weeks, demonstrations were also held in support of two suspended committee members and a board of appeals member.

"In a document, sent out by the EPO’s staff union SUEPO reviewing the action, it says that today “more than ever” the reputation of the EPO and its staff are in danger.

"“Staff members have a duty to defend this EPO for which they work for and believe in. This [striking] was not the final act of this ‘B’ movie. 2015 will undoubtedly be an even more challenging year. SUEPO is prepared for it,” the union said.

"The EPO did not immediately respond to a request for comment."

Here in Techrights we are going to expose more corruption inside the EPO and especially divulge information about Željko Topić. We shall do really exciting, high-impact stuff in the next year and years beyond it. There is a lot more in Topić's past and we just need to do further fact-checking (the guy is an aggressive bully who silences critics). We hope to continue seeing big staff protests. Just before Christmas we saw a third of EPO walking out after other big protests across different parts of Europe -- protests that will likely oust the current management. Battistelli et al. are dead men walking. They already know it as they are growing desperate and now using the patent lawyers' Web sites for placements/puff pieces, as part of their despicable attempt to rewrite history and lie about how 'their' EPO functions. Let's make the EPO work for Europeans, not foreign corporations and their figureheads. Let's emphasise the importance of scientists, not opportunistic lawyers and their affluent clients. ⬆