Bonum Certa Men Certa

Adding Insult to Suicide: European Commission's Site Publishes Benoît Battistelli's EPO Puff Pieces

Helping Battistelli market/lobby for patents on life

European Commission and EPO



Summary: The European Commission's Web site has resorted to publishing puff pieces of Benoît Battistelli, whose input on the subject at hand comes from ignorance and lies, not any substantial scientific understanding of the associated/underlying issues

THE Office which Battistelli undermines is committing institutional suicide, not just driving workers and former workers to suicide.



Some courageous MEPs, such as Marc Tarabella whom we last mentioned yesterday, are trying to do something about it and that's really appreciated by those affected. To quote a comment from yesterday:



New question of MEP Marc Tarabella (Belgian) about the situation at EPO

https://suepo.org/marc_tarabella_office_europeen_des_brevets_oeb_et_abus_sociaux/d-44022

Thanks god it exists politicians like Mr Tarabella, Mr Cordery, Mr le Borgn', Mr Yung, Mr van Nispen, and dozens of others who dare to raise their voice to denounce what needs to be denounced.


But where are the European Commission and Parliament? Why are they so silent/passive/apathetic when such serious abuses and gross violations are committed by Battistelli and his thugs? Why aren't EU officials doing anything? They, collectively speaking, basically spoil their own reputation and judging by comments we habitually see in The Register, this harms the EU as well (people use this to justify/rationalise Brexit).

Last night we saw this new press release (one among many like it) bragging about truly pathetic patents granted by the EPO. "Intellia Therapeutics Inc.," it said, "announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) has decided to grant a patent broadly covering the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology."

"But where are the European Commission and Parliament? Why are they so silent/passive/apathetic when such serious abuses and gross violations are committed by Battistelli and his thugs?"At the same time we saw this new 'article' (more like lending the platform and making a puff piece in the form of an 'interview' -- a PR classic!). This morning we saw it mirrored verbatim in europa.eu, which seems to have stooped this low on ethical grounds. So the EU publishes puff pieces for Battistelli now? While failing to enforce the law against him, due to supposed immunity? It was posted in the European Commission's site and its purpose is to help the Liar in Chief justify patents on genome -- a subject he clearly does not understand (he is no scientific background at all!).

The 'article' by Damon Embling is not really an article but an introduction which goes as follows:

The European Patent Office (EPO) has faced opposition in the past, for instance, over patents relating to processes for re-engineering genes, for use in medical research into cancer treatment. These processes could apply to various animals, including great apes – and that became a magnet for criticism from animal rights campaigners.


The rest is more of less composed by the Liar in Chief (and patently a crook) along with his PR department. This site should know better than to speak to this man, let alone let him print such nonsense. To quote: "Youris.com spoke to Benoit Battistelli, President of the EPO, about the role of patent protection and how it can aid biotechnology innovation and the wider bioeconomy – despite the obstacles faced by some."

"It was posted in the European Commission's site and its purpose is to help the Liar in Chief justify patents on genome -- a subject he clearly does not understand (he is no scientific background at all!)."Battistelli knows not a damn thing about biotechnology. Heck, it wasn't until his mid-fifties that he even got involved in anything "IP". All he knows is autocracy. Look at his career record.

Further down it says this: "This article is part of the communication of the ProBIO project, a support action for KBBE projects which identifies research results to facilitate their uptake into the relevant sector."

So it's acting almost like a think tank. And then it gets fed into the European Commission's Web site. Wonderful!

"EPO workers ought to know that they have somewhat of foe (passive and unsympathetic) in the higher echelons of the EU."The bizarre relationship between EU officials and the EPO continues to be mystifying. It's almost as though the top officials are virtually in cahoots. Earlier today the EPO wrote: "The deadline for the PanEuropean Seal Programme is approaching. Recommend it to anyone you think might be interested..."

This is an EU thing. It makes one wonder if the EU will adopt the EPO after its imminent collapse and reinvention for litigation alone (as UPC hopefuls insist).

EPO workers ought to know that they have somewhat of foe (passive and unsympathetic) in the higher echelons of the EU. They have done virtually nothing to help. The same goes for the German government, unlike Bavarian authorities. Who is rubbing whose back? Is this a case of one hand washing the other and both hands washing the face? And if so, whose face? Why is there endless tolerance of sheer abuses (like the Sicilian Mafia) at the very top tier of European authorities?

Recent Techrights' Posts

Plot Twist: Microsoft MSN Relays Articles Hinting at or Pointing to Mass Layoffs Soon, Other Gossip
the narrative from Microsoft's "PR bunny" (Shaw) is showing mold already
'Vibe Coding' is Not "AI", It's a Sewer, It is Junk
Linus Torvalds was wrong. 'Vibe coding' isn't good for anything.
GNU/Linux May be Approaching 10% "Market Share" in Montenegro
The surge started around 2021
More IBM Layoffs in India
If IBM cannot afford to retain workers in India, then something is truly "out of control" at IBM
Dr. Richard Stallman Has Done No Harm to the GNU Project or the FSF (He Had Benefited Both, Always, Even After the Attacks on Him Began)
Some people try to prevent Dr. Stallman from speaking or having a platform where many people can hear him
Microsoft Isn't Denying the Mass Layoffs
Still silence from Microsoft
In Western Africa GNU/Linux Flirts With 5% Market Share
there's a gradual increase in GNU/Linux usage there
Gemini Links 09/01/2026: Pro1 X Repair and the Mercury Protocol
Links for the day
No, Microsoft Did Not Deny the Q1 Mass Layoffs (Microsoft Can Delay These)
Maybe they disperse or delay the layoffs (changing plans), but the layoffs are going to happen
 
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Friday, January 09, 2026
IRC logs for Friday, January 09, 2026
Gemini Links 10/01/2026: Blackout, E-Waste, and Secondary Smartphone
Links for the day
IBM is a Cancer That Attaches Itself to Everything
Red Hat should have remained an independent company
Links 09/01/2026: Google and Character.AI Implicitly Accept Chatbots Kill Kids and GLP-1 ‘Slimming Pens’ Turn Out to be a Lot Worse Than Advertised
Links for the day
At IBM, "Employee Reviews" (or Appraisals in the UK) Are a "Trojan Horse" for RAs (Mass Layoffs), a Waste of Time
comments from IBMer serve to suggest that appraisals can be precursors
Links 09/01/2026: Technical Blogging Lessons Learned and Google's Gmail Getting a Lot Worse
Links for the day
Escaping GAFAM Colonialism Requires Homegrown Free Software
GNU/Linux now measured at 3% in Zambia
GNU/Linux at 4% in Saudi Arabia, Says statCounter
Some years ago Windows fell to a "market share" of just 11% there
Links 09/01/2026: Cambodia and China Extradition, "NATO’s High-risk Patrols Near Ukraine"
Links for the day
Only One Person in Charge of Fedora is Not IBM Staff
This is not a community project, it's just a way for IBM to onboard unpaid volunteers
This Is Not a Drill, GNU/Linux is Really Going 'Mainstream' on Laptops (and Desktops)
It is important to explain to people software freedom
IBM Albany Layoffs
not only did many in the site lose their job; there's more to come "and likely another one in February" (weeks from now)
EPO Workers' Industrial Action to Include Many Strikes, to Last Several Months
In some ways, The Hague and Bavaria are becoming almost indistinguishable from Moscow
EPO People Power - Part XXIX - Getting DER SPIEGEL, FAZ, Deutschlandfunk and Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) to Cover EPO Scandals
We kindly ask our readers to contact their local media and urge it to cover the scandals
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, January 08, 2026
IRC logs for Thursday, January 08, 2026
Gemini Links 08/01/2026: "New Year, Old Plans" and Alex's "Butlerian Jihad"
Links for the day
LLM Slop About "Linux" Scarce and of Very Low Quality
At this rate, we reckon there may be one (or zero) per day by year's end
IBM's "Forever Layoffs" (to Bypass Warnings or Notices as Required by WARN Act)
There is a bunch of speculations about when the next "major round" of RAs will be
Attempts to Undermine This Site's Latest Series Using Intimidation, Threats, and Presumptuous Accusations
threatening language is less effective when everyone is an alibi
Links 08/01/2026: "Golden Smartphone" Scam and Riseup Account Issues
Links for the day
Links 08/01/2026: Possible "Collapse of NATO Over Greenland"; Journalistic Malpractice and "US Voters Hate Slop"
Links for the day
EPO People Power - Part XXVIII - A Sensitive Issue for Germany and The Netherlands
If Germans who read this series can communicate this to public officials or to their media, maybe they can strike a nerve and get the ball rolling
Age Discrimination at IBM Discussed Amid Mass Layoffs (Especially in the United States)
Workers are anxious. Are they next to face the axe?
Gemini Links 08/01/2026: Potentiometer Calculator, Power Outages, Why You Should Abandon Discord for IRC (e.g. Ergo), and Formatting Gopher Posts
Links for the day
Links 08/01/2026: More Software Patents Squashed, White House Repeats Misinformation From the Kremlin
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, January 07, 2026
IRC logs for Wednesday, January 07, 2026