TECHRIGHTS is optimistic about the EPO, which is probably about to change for the better because the President (Battistelli) lives on borrowed time. Next week we'll start debating succession.
"When even an EPO-funded Web site admits there’s a serious problem (the PR department is still denying it as it’s paid to do this) one has to acknowledge that the situation is looking very grim."There is no point denying it anymore (the conflict). The authenticity of the documents and accuracy of the information have already been verified.
"It is hard to see Battistelli agreeing to back down," IAM added, "he is much more likely to walk away." He reportedly threatened to do it last year, but new reports suggest it's down to money right now. We urgently require a translation of this new article (in Dutch) titled "Franse despoot wil 18 miljoen bij vertrek". FTI Consulting has clearly failed Team Battistelli. It didn't manage to salvage the EPO's reputation, meaning that Battistelli already flushed close to $1,000,000 (dark budget/PR money) down the toilet. Does he want over 20 million dollars now? After all the damage he has done? We now know Battistelli's salary and may reveal it at a later date (it's not so urgent a topic). Battistelli -- reportedly -- basically wants 30-40 years of presidential salary. Not so bad a 'welfare' plan for a man who is already approaching age 70...
IAM then brought up some Battistelli talking point, stating that "Battistelli will believe - with some justification - he has done what the Admin Council wanted him to do: increase production & revenue."
"Battistelli -- reportedly -- basically wants 30-40 years of presidential salary. Not so bad a 'welfare' plan for a man who is already approaching age 70..."Over in the US, based on this new chart of "Patent Grants 2016" (nice work from Patently-O by the way), patent numbers (and thus revenue, which is proportional) nearly doubled because of declining quality, which is indicative of a problem; it's not a yardstick of success (does not take externalities into account).
Bragging about growth in the number of granted patents -- as Battistelli often does (remember the "Meet the President" charade earlier this month) -- is misleading at best and a lot of it is based on a lie, too. They're cooking the books. They are extremely craftful with statistics and they hope to successfully mislead the media, as they so often do already, exploiting gullibility of non-technical journalists with a university degree in a language.
"To clarify again, we do support the EPO in principle (there is no intention to destroy the EPO), but the EPO needs to go back to the EPC."Earlier today I joked that Battistelli should soon apply for a job at SIPO (China), where there is almost zero quality control and almost zero human rights (it's probably negative, i.e. lower than zero, at the EPO right now).
To clarify again, we do support the EPO in principle (there is no intention to destroy the EPO), but the EPO needs to go back to the EPC. Watch how the EPO is trying to 'massage' the “Guidelines for Examination” in various events, some of which were announced or re-announced even hours ago. The EPO asks: "What's the impact of the amendments in the new Guidelines for Examination? Discuss with experts in Oslo on 7 April..."
What are the changes/amendments based on? Definitely not the EPC, which definitely and unambiguously forbade software patents (be these "as such" or not).
Asked for a comment on the EPO's latest teaser ahead of upcoming propaganda (bogus patent numbers to be shared next week), a reader told us: "OK, it's only that stupid applicant hit parade PR exercise again. They've been doing this for a few years, I can't say when it began (before or after Battistelli), but Battistelli already ran a similar show when he was at the French patent office. I thought it could be something else, I should really learn not to overestimate them."
Going back to IAM, in its Twitter account it said: "It is clear, though, that recent headlines over union official dismissals and the Enlarged Board of Appeal have spooked some on the AC."
"What it all means," IAM added, "is that something has now got to give at the EPO. When that happens, it will not be pretty."
"Battistelli cannot tolerate transparency (he can only write/author blog posts titled “transparency”) because transparency would reveal gross abuses like keyloggers, hidden cameras (targeting guests who come to the EPO), and worse — all sorts of serious criminal charges in Croatia."IAM then said that the "EPO is in crisis this evening. Its governance structure is clearly not fit for purpose. It is time for full transparency." As I explained to IAM, not (lack of) “transparency” is the problem. It’s what the secrecy has served to hide... so far. Battistelli cannot tolerate transparency (he can only write/author blog posts titled “transparency”) because transparency would reveal gross abuses like keyloggers, hidden cameras (targeting guests who come to the EPO), and worse -- all sorts of serious criminal charges in Croatia.
The bottom line is this: when even people whom Battistelli pays recognise that he might be leaving it really means something.
A final (second) reminder: We urgently need a translation of the article "Franse despoot wil 18 miljoen bij vertrek" (link above) as it seemingly serves to further confirm that Battistelli will be out soon (and that it's just matter of money now). When choosing to prepare a translation please state the intent to us so that we can ensure there's no duplication of effort (two or more people working on a translation at the same time). Someone is already working on a translation of "Problemas de gobernanza en organizaciones internacionales: la EPO" and today we received 3 translations of 3 articles in Dutch, so stay tuned for more... ⬆