Summary: The national delegations to whom the serious abuses by the European Patent Office (EPO) can -- and probably should -- be reported
THE EPO's management is apparently (if word on the street is to be believed) shielded by fear. The continued abuse is facilitated mostly by the Administrative Council, where nobody 'dares' to take the first move and challenge Team Battistelli, having already seen how Battistelli can bully delegates. We have decided to make a concise summary of the situation along with the following easy-to-follow list of contacts for anyone wishing to express an opinion and/or ask national delegations to tackle the abuses.
Starting with smaller member states (or groups) and moving towards larger ones, here we go. Some E-mails may no longer be up to date or active, so contacting several people (multiple recipients) is the safest way to ensure the messages land on the right ears. For one to contact one's officials is not political activism but an exercise in functioning democracy.
Albania
Delegates/Representatives:
elvin.lako@dppm.gov.al
elvanda.mece@dppm.gov.al
mailinf@dppm.gov.al
Bulgaria
Delegates/Representatives:
vbabaleva@bpo.bg
tnaydenova@bpo.bg
bpo@bpo.bg
Croatia
Delegates/Representatives:
ljiljana.kuterovac@dziv.hr
Cyprus
Delegates/Representatives:
skokkinos@drcor.mcit.gov.cy
eeleftheriou@drcor.mcit.gov.cy
Czech Republic
Delegates/Representatives:
jkratochvil@upv.cz
skopecka@upv.cz
posta@upv.cz
Estonia
Delegates/Representatives:
Matti.Paets@epa.ee
Margus.Viher@epa.ee
Greece
Delegates/Representatives:
ssta@obi.gr
kmar@obi.gr
info@obi.gr
Latvia
Delegates/Representatives:
guntis.ramans@lrpv.gov.lv
sandris.laganovskis@lrpv.gov.lv
valde@lrpv.lv
Lithuania
Delegates/Representatives:
rimvydas.naujokas@vpb.gov.lt
zilvinas.danys@vpb.gov.lt
Macedonia
Delegates/Representatives:
safet.emruli@ippo.gov.mk
irenaj@ippo.gov.mk
Malta
Delegates/Representatives:
godwin.warr@gov.mt
michelle.bonello@gov.mt
Monaco
Delegates/Representatives:
ekheng@gouv.mc
expansion@gouv.mc
mcpi@gouv.mc
Poland
Delegates/Representatives:
aadamczak@uprp.pl
ematysiak@uprp.pl
glachowicz@uprp.pl
Portugal
Delegates/Representatives:
leonor.trindade@inpi.pt
marco.dinis@inpi.pt
Romania
Delegates/Representatives:
ionel.muscalu@osim.ro
alexandru.strenc@osim.ro
office@osim.ro
San Marino
Delegates/Representatives:
silvia.rossi.ubm@pa.sm
b.cinquantini@ngpatent.it
Serbia
Delegates/Representatives:
btotic@zis.gov.rs
bbilenkati@zis.gov.rs
zis@zis.gov.rs
Slovakia
Delegates/Representatives:
lubos.knoth@indprop.gov.sk
lukrecia.marcokova@indprop.gov.sk
urad@indprop.gov.sk
Slovenia
Delegates/Representatives:
Vesna.StankovicJuricic@uil-sipo.si
Ales.orazem@uil-sipo.si
h.zalaznik@uil-sipo.si
sipo@uil-sipo.si
Turkey
Delegates/Representatives:
habip.asan@turkpatent.gov.tr
akocer@turkpatent.gov.tr
info@turkpatent.gov.tr
Belgium
L'Office belge de la Propriété intellectuelle (OPRI)
SPF Economie, P.M.E., Classes moyennes et Energie
City Atrium C
Rue du Progrès, 50
B-1210 Brussels, BELGIUM
Ms. Sabine Laruelle
http://www.laruelle.belgium.be/fr/equipe-et-contact
http://www.sabinelaruelle.be/homepage
info@laruelle.fgov.be
Delegates/Representatives:
jerome.debrulle@economie.fgov.be
geoffrey.bailleux@mineco.fgov.be
Netherlands
NL Octrooicentrum
Ministerie van Economische Zaken
Bezuidenhoutseweg 73
postbus 20401
NL- 2500 EK, Den Haag
NEDERLANDS
Mr. Henk Kamp
http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/bewindspersonen/henk-kamp
Assistant:
b.becker@minez.nl
Spokespersons:
b.visser@minez.nl
P.vanStrien@minez.nl
t.d.vanes@minez.nl
Delegates/Representatives:
derk-jan.degroot@agentschapnl.nl
p.h.m.vanbeukering@minez.nl
Luxembourg
Office de la propriété intellectuelle
Ministère de l’Economie et du Commerce extérieur
19-21, boulevard Royal
L-2914 Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURG
Mr. Etienne Schneider
http://www.eco.public.lu/ministere/ministre/index.html
etienne.schneider@eco.etat.lu
minister@eco.etat.lu
Secretary:
catherine.lammar@eco.etat.lu
Delegates/Representatives:
lex.kaufhold@eco.etat.lu
claude.sahl@eco.etat.lu
UK
Intellectual Property Office
Department for
Business Innovation & Skills
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
UNITED KINGDOM
Dr. Vince Cable
https://www.gov.uk/government/people/vince-cable
enquiries@bis.gsi.gov.uk
cablev@parliament.uk
Delegates/Representatives:
john.alty@ipo.gov.uk
sean.dennehey@ipo.gov.uk
Ireland
Irish Patents Office
Department of
Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation,
23 Kildare Street, Dublin 2
IRELAND
Mr. Richard Bruton
http://www.djei.ie/corporate/ministersoffice/richardbruton.htm
minister@djei.ie
Delegates/Representatives:
gerard.barrett@patentsoffice.ie
France
Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI)
Ministère de l’Ãâ°conomie,
des Finances et
du Commerce extérieur
139, rue de Bercy
F-75572 Paris Cedex 12
FRANCE
Mr. Emmanuel Macron
http://www.economie.gouv.fr/le-ministere/emmanuel-macron
Delegates/Representatives:
ylapierre@inpi.fr
fclaireau@inpi.fr
contact@inpi.fr
Italy
Ufficio Italiano Brevetti e Marchi
(UIBM)
Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico
Uffici del Ministro
Via Veneto 33
IT-00187 Roma
ITALIA
Ms. Federica Guidi
http://www.sviluppoeconomico.gov.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&idmenu=3315
segreteria.ministro@mise.gov.it
Delegates/Representatives:
mauro.masi@consap.it
loredana.gulino@mise.gov.it
Spain
Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas
(OEPM)
Ministerio de Industria,
Energía y Turismo
Pۼ de la Castellana 160.
ES-28046 Madrid
ESPAÃâA
Dr. José Manuel Soria López
http://www.minetur.gob.es/es-ES/Ministro/Biografia/Paginas/CV_Ministro.aspx
secretaria.ministro@mityc.es
Delegates/Representatives:
patricia.garcia-escudero@oepm.es
pedro.cartagena@oepm.es
Germany
Deutsches Marken- und Patentamt (DPMA)
Bundesministerium der Justiz (BMJ)
Mohrenstraße 37
D-10117 Berlin
DEUTSCHLAND
Mr. Heiko Maas
http://www.bmjv.de/DE/Ministerium/Hausleitung/Minister/_node.html
mail@heiko-maas.de
poststelle@bmj.bund.de
Delegates/Representatives:
ernst-ch@bmj.bund.de
info@dpma.de
Switzerland
Eidgenössisches Institut für Geistiges Eigentum
Eidgenössischen Justiz- und Polizeidepartement (EJPD)
Bundeshaus West
CH-3003 Bern
SCHWEIZ
Ms. Simonetta Sommaruga
http://www.ejpd.admin.ch/ejpd/de/home/ueber-uns/dv.html
simonetta.sommaruga@gs-ejpd.admin.ch
simonetta.sommaruga@parl.ch
Delegates/Representatives:
roland.grossenbacher@ipi.ch
christian.bock@metas.ch
info@ipi.ch
Liechtenstein
Eidgenössisches Institut für Geistiges Eigentum
Ministerium für Inneres,
Justiz und Wirtschaft
Postfach 684
9490 Vaduz
LIECHTENSTEIN
Dr. Thomas Zwiefelhofer
http://www.regierung.li/ministerien/wirtschaft/mitarbeitende-kontakt/
thomas@zwiefelhofer.net
Assistant:
Simon.Biedermann@regierung.li
Delegates/Representatives:
Sabine.Monauni@llv.li
Esther.Schindler@llv.li
ute.hammermann@avw.llv.li
info@avw.llv.li
Austria
Ãâsterreichisches Patentamt
Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie (BMVIT)
Radetzkystraße 2
A-1030 Wien
ÃâSTERREICH
Mr. Alois Stöger
http://www.bmvit.gv.at/
alois.stoeger@spoe.at
Delegates/Representatives:
friedrich.roedler@patentamt.at
andrea.scheichl@patentamt.at
info@patentamt.at
Hungary
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
Ministry of Public Administration
and Justice
Kossuth Lajos tér 2-4.
HU-1055 Budapest
HUNGARY
Dr. Tibor Navracsics
http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-public-administration-and-justice/the-minister
info@kim.gov.hu
intcomm@me.gov.hu
Delegates/Representatives:
miklos.bendzsel@hipo.gov.hu
mihaly.ficsor@hipo.gov.hu
elnokseg@hipo.gov.hu
Denmark
Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO)
Ministry for Business and Growth
Slotsholmsgade 10-12
DK-1216 København K
DENMARK
Mr. Henrik Sass Larsen
http://www.evm.dk/english/the-minister
evm@evm.dk
Press Secretary
smn@evm.dk
Delegates/Representatives:
jko@dkpto.dk
arj@dkpto.dk
mlr@dkpto.dk
knj@dkpto.dk
pbp@dkpto.dk
pvs@dkpto.dk
Sweden
Swedish Patent and Registration Office
Ministry of Justice
Rosenbad 4
SE-103 33 Stockholm
SWEDEN
Ms. Beatrice Ask
http://www.government.se/sb/d/7567
beatrice.ask@gov.se
Justitiedepartementet.registrator@regeringskansliet.se
Delegates/Representatives:
susanne.sivborg@prv.se
per.holmstrand@prv.se
Update: Beatrice Ask is no longer minister of justice, it's Morgan Johansson. Best way of contacting is via registrator of department of justice: ju.registrator@regeringskansliet.se
Finland
National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (NBPR)
Ministry of Employment
and the Economy
P.O. Box 32
FI-00023 GOVERNMENT
FINLAND
Mr. Jan Vapaavuori
Minister of Economic Affairs
http://www.tem.fi/index.phtml?l=en&s=2297
jan.vapaavuori@tem.fi
Secretary:
jonna.sjogren@tem.fi
Delegates/Representatives:
rauni.hagman@prh.fi
jorma.hanski@prh.fi
Norway
The Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO)
Ministry of Trade and Industry
P.O.Box 8114 Dep.,
N-0030 Oslo
NORWAY
Monica Mæland, Minister of Trade and Industry
http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/nfd/about-the-ministry/minister-of-trade-and-industry-monica-ma.html?id=742948
postmottak@nfd.dep.no
Delegates/Representatives:
pfo@patentstyret.no
jsa@patentstyret.no
Iceland
Icelandic Patent Office
Ministry of Industries and Innovation
Skulagotu 4
150 Reykjavík
Iceland
Ragnheiður Elín ÃÂrnadóttir
Minister of Industry and Commerce
http://eng.atvinnuvegaraduneyti.is/ministers/nr/6748
rea@althingi.is
postur@anr.is
Delegates/Representatives:
borghildur@els.is
elfa@els.is
If we have left something or someone out, or if an inclusion of an entry is out of date, please let us know in the comments below.
Once upon a time someone spoke of the "Broken Governance of the European Patent Organisation", noting that "several members of the Administration Board of the European Patent Organisation are the national patent offices themselves!"
At the time, things were different and not the same persons involved.
Nevertheless, back then the list of representatives at the Administrative Council of the EPO highlighted the fact that the Executive was also the Legislator:
BE: Office de la Propriété Intellectuelle
BG: Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria
CZ: Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic
DK: Danish Patent and Trademark Office
EE: Estonian Patent Office
ES: Department, Spanish Patent and Trademark Office
FI: National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland
FR: Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle
UK: UK Intellectual Property Office
GR: Industrial Property Organisation (OBI)
HU: Hungarian Patent Office
HR: State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia
IE: Irish Patents Office
IS: Icelandic Patent Office
IT: Office italien des brevets et des marques
LT: The State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania
LV: Latvian Patent Office
NL: Netherlands Patent Office
NO: Norwegian Industrial Property Office
PL: Patent Office of the Republic of Poland
PT: National Institute of Industrial Property
RO: State Office for Inventions and Trademarks
SE: Swedish Patent and Registration Office
SI: Slovenian Intellectual Property Office
SK: Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic
TR: Turkish Patent Institute
Three questions were raised at the time:
- Does the Council recognise that there is lack of separation of powers between the legislative powers and the executive powers in the European Patent Organisation?
- How does the Council view the separation of powers between the legislative and the executive powers in the future European Patent System?
- How does the Council view the fact that the same lack of separation of powers may happen inside its own institution?
That was written a long time ago, but it was rather prophetic because we still see some overlap between the legislative and executive powers. This in its own right is a subject which merits open debate.
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