Bonum Certa Men Certa

The EPO's PR Department Receives Return on Investment (Puff Pieces) for Paying the Media

Numbers rise in the east (but down in most other places)

Sunrise



Summary: The media 'yield' of the EPO does not tell truths (cherry-picked numbers) and some of that media was literally paid by the EPO, at the expense of applicants and patent holders

THE EPO scandals have been brushed aside for a few days because, as we noted in two previous articles, external PR agencies have taken over things and they "run the show", so to speak. They dominate the media right now. We already wrote a quick rebuttal (which wasn't going to make a difference for media whose business model is amplifying claims in exchange for money or for interests of the media's owners). Take Science|Business for instance; last year it did UPC puff pieces for the EPO [1, 2]. It spread a lot of misinformation which in retrospect looks utterly ridiculous because the UPC isn't happening. Now it claims "record number" for the EPO, as do sites of patent maximalists. But they're not quite counting the right thing. They should present a breakdown showing that the EPO's revenue from patent applications actually declined this past year (the fees were lowered to fake 'growth' by the cancer that is Battistelli). But who cares about facts anyway? They present things only in ways that suit them.

"They should present a breakdown showing that the EPO's revenue from patent applications actually declined this past year..."Korean press (for the most part) focused on LG's corporate accomplishments [1, 2, 3] (more patents than Samsung, as well most among Korean companies).

English-speaking Chinese press (for the most part) focused on Huawei [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] (similar to the above).

"The EPO tries hard to make everyone, everywhere talk about China because that's where most of the 'growth' comes from."Many publishers have been tricked by the EPO into issuing a puff piece. Or maybe it was all willful. Maybe it was even LG and Huawei (through PR agencies) pressing for such coverage if not ghostwriting it. There's a similar article in German, promoted this morning by the EPO. Yesterday the EPO retweeted Handelsblatt, which it had paid only months ago. The payments do eventually pay off, no?

There's focus on China even in British and German sites. The EPO tries hard to make everyone, everywhere talk about China because that's where most of the 'growth' comes from. It's also where patent maximalism comes from (no wonder Battistelli loves to meet/chat with them). Watchtroll carried on with its China fetish yesterday. "China Outpaces U.S. in AI Startup Funding, Aims for AI Dominance," said the headline. This is part of the relatively new propaganda pattern: "China grants many patents so we should too. For lawyers' profit."

Never mind if much of the above is basically just drainage of the pending work, which necessarily means EPO layoffs. The work will have run out soon. The writings have been on the wall for at least a couple of years.

Having hired PR agencies for the UK (specifically), the EPO now sees more puff pieces in the UK, e.g. [1, 2]. Best coverage money can buy?

"Never mind if much of the above is basically just drainage of the pending work, which necessarily means EPO layoffs."Get a load of this from IP Kat! What's new at IP Kat? Quite a week! It repeatedly attacked a study which showed Europe suffering from patent trolls (and both time it was Bristows doing that) and it helps promote software patents in Europe. IP Kat is now the trolls' friend, not just Battistelli's (and UPC's) friend. What a disgrace for a site which once fought for actual workers of the EPO, not for an aggressive tyrant.

A few hours ago at IP Kat Bristows staff called her colleague "Kat friend" and copy-pastes her. Is IP Kat just/merely an apparatus of Bristows or is it an independent blog? They're boosting patent maximalists, AIPPI UK.

For those who wondered what had happened at IP Kat, look at who left the blog over the past year or two. "Merpel" is not a real person but a pseudonym used by or shared by several people (some of whom are no longer at IP Kat). Things have changed.

"Bottom line is, the EPO is running out of 'stock' far too quickly as quality of patents nose-dives. EPO insiders know that."Judging by the reactions to the annual reports, patent law firms in Europe now celebrate the patenting of algorithms at the EPO, e.g. under the guise of (buzz)words like "artificial intelligence". Bristows too must be very pleased.

What's also worth noting is that a couple of hours ago the EPO retweeted its own "media partner", Les Echos, after it had produced its obligatory puff piece that parrots all the spin. Isn't bribed media just lovely? It's just so obedient. This one (Les Echos) even removed things the EPO asked to remove.

Bottom line is, the EPO is running out of 'stock' far too quickly as quality of patents nose-dives. EPO insiders know that.

The EPO gave 'discounts' to applicants, which is what we all along (for months) said would help Battistelli fake growth. But the media won't tell anyone that little factoid, will it?

"It would not shock us if the EPO already used its external surveillance agencies (which had hired former Stasi staff and committed illegal acts inside the EPO) to profile staff."What will EP holders do if/when the EPO collapses (which it already does to a degree)?

It would not shock us if the EPO already used its external surveillance agencies (which had hired former Stasi staff and committed illegal acts inside the EPO) to profile staff. They could, for example, use a list of SUEPO members to decide who to fire. Union busting tends to work like that (there's a lot of news this week about a US lawsuit over it), in essense keeping only 'loyal' workers and those who are powerless because they aren't part of a union.

With censorship levels peaking at the Office perhaps the EPO will not only emphasise and brag about China; maybe it will also emulate Xi's tactics for censoring opposition to removal of term limits. We already know that Battistelli heavily meddled in the appointment of Campinos, who is strongly connected to Battistelli and is French also.

Recent Techrights' Posts

Misinformation is Not Intelligence
It's low-grade plagiarism and it fails to show any signs of intelligence
'Tech' Gimmicks Are for Advertising, Not for Usability
In the case of Microsoft, they latched onto slop
BetaNews Sacked Brian Fagioli and Deleted His Comments, But He Still Tries to Use the "BetaNews" Brand for Self-Affirmation
Fagioli takes the work of other people
[Meme] Hard to Be a Better Person?
Sooner or later they'll realise that for each pound I spend they need to spend about 1,000 times more
New US Editor for The Register is a Microsoft Booster
"Avram Piltch has served as US editor for The Register since July 2025."
 
Yes, Master
Gaslighting by actual racists
Microsoft Bribes and Buys Politicians to Tell Europe What to Do About Free Software (Which It's Attacking)
Microsoft: we speak for the thing that we are attacking! Follow the money...
Making Backups Quickly and Reliably
Backups are imperative, more so in an age of uncertainty, unpredictable weather, and worsening standards (quality of products going down while prices go up)
Techrights Investigation: Estimating the Point in Time LinuxIac Turned Into LLM Slop (Part of the Time)
Bobby Borisov got lazy
10th Month, Ten Weeks From Now, at Ten AM
In Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, July 24, 2025
IRC logs for Thursday, July 24, 2025
A Nadella Memo Distracts From Microsoft's Cheapening Of the Workforce
Right now the "MSM" (mainstream media) is flooded/overwhelmed by garbage pieces that relay lies for Nadella
Vanishing Faces of GNU/Linux
Free software projects do not depend on any one person or company to still exist
Microsoft Says It Lost 400 Million Windows Users, Now It's Waiting for GNU/Linux to Stop Booting on 'Old' PCs
When it comes to Windows, Microsoft is fully aware of the issue and statements it made earlier this summer suggest it lost 400 million Windows users
Slopwatch: LinuxTechLab, linuxsecurity.com, LinuxIac, and More
Also: The Register's Microsoft agenda (new editor)
Gemini Links 25/07/2025: Gemtext Aware Titan Editor and Gemini Protocol Comeback
Links for the day
Links 24/07/2025: Convicted Felon Quits UNESCO, "Vibe Coding Goes Wrong", and Signalgate Gets Worse
Links for the day
Gemini Links 24/07/2025: Forgejo Woes and Smolnet Directory Week
Links for the day
Links 24/07/2025: Storage Tapes Still Kicking, Windows TCO 'on Steroids' (Microsoft-Induced Catastrophes)
Links for the day
Bobby Borisov (LinuxIac) Has Apparently Begun Experimenting With LLM Slop, So We Cannot Trust LinuxIac Anymore
So did LinuxIac become a slopfarm? Maybe not yet, but it's getting there
Informa TechTarget's ITProToday is Becoming a Slopfarm Generated by Microsoft Chatbots
Busted.
The LLM Con Artists Are Highly Destructive
Who will ever be held accountable for this scam?
Too Bribed by Microsoft to Move to Free Software?
Microsoft lies and Microsoft bribery (in politics)
Microsoft Hiring European Politicians is Another Form of Bribery; There Should be a European Investigation
When Microsoft bribed people in Europe for OOXML (there's no denying this!) a European government delegate said that Microsoft operated like a cult
Reda Demanded That FSF Removes Its Founder, Now Reda Works Directly for Microsoft
A sellout and a traitor, first working for GAFAM, now Microsoft
PCLinuxOS is Raising Money to Support Development After Fire Incident at the Host
PCLinuxOS has not had announcements lately
Speed of the Site Should be Better Now
The "bot attacks" impact the speed of the sister site too
Getting More From AnalogNowhere
Recently we used many images from AnalogNowhere
Microsoft, Microsofters and 'Secure' Boot Shills Already Storming the LWN Report About Expiring Certificate, Shooting the Messenger
LWN has clearly stuck a nerve
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
IRC logs for Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Disable "Secure" Boot Today (the Only Better Time to Do So Was Yesterday)
Don't trust anything Red Hat tells you about security
Links 23/07/2025: Windows Killed Company After 150+ Years, US Government Mimics Russia's Attacks on the Media
Links for the day
Freedom Generally Wins at the End, History Shows (But It's Constantly Attacked, Too)
At the moment people realise "Linux" (e.g. Android) isn't enough to guarantee any freedoms
Over 3 Months Later Brett Wilson LLP Still Unable to Recruit a Media Lawyer?
"Immediate start", but not found... still unfilled
“Inhumane” and “Disgusting” Mass Layoff Execution, According to Microsoft Staff
The workers are looking for other places to work
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) Has a New Slogan for Its 40th Anniversary
The freedoms are what's most important
Microsoft is Trying to "Pull a Nokia" on GNU/Linux as Desktop/Laptop Platform
We all remember that rather well, don't we?
LLM Slopfarms gbhackers.com, "Cyber Press" and CyberSecurityNews Are Drowning Google News (and Shame on Google for Feeding and Facilitating Them)
All are run by the same people
Links 23/07/2025: Droplets GUI Patent Monopoly Challenge, Nokia Leverages Illegal Patent Court Against Rivals
Links for the day
Gemini Links 23/07/2025: Community in Geminispace and Challenges With Old Computers
Links for the day
Links 23/07/2025: Slop Patents Tackled, Slop Copyright Misuses Tackled by Politicians
Links for the day
Our Three Lawsuits Against Microsofters Are About to Become a Lot More Relevant to GNU/Linux
The Master will easily understand why Garrett has been attacking me since 2012
Links 23/07/2025: Retreating From Transparency on Jeffrey Epstein, We No Longer Have Press Freedom
Links for the day
Gemini Links 23/07/2025: Piano and Food
Links for the day
New and Old
On Ageism in Tech
Slop Is Not Intelligence and It Does Not Enhance Productivity
Like voice dictation, which cannot tell the difference between "sheet" and "shit"
EPO Crimes Are Spreading to the British Court System
Society is now paying the price for failing to tackle crimes at the EPO
It's Time to Dump SharePoint and Here's What to Use Instead
Nextcloud, ownCloud, Bookstack, MediaWiki, and MediaGoblin
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
IRC logs for Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Brett Wilson LLP Has Gone Silent
Sometimes silence says more than nothing at all
Slopwatch: LinuxSecurity, Planet Ubuntu, and LinuxTechLab
some slopfarms show no remorse and they don't value their reputation at all
Links 23/07/2025: Book Bans, Storms, and Kangaroo Court for Patents Commits More Unlawful Acts of Overreach
Links for the day