YESTERDAY we published three articles about the European Patent Office (EPO). What's most troubling to us, at least at this moment in time, is seeing the EPO 'sold' to private companies. The report we cited was soon followed by another which said: "OTE Group undertook, through an international competition, a five-year project to monitor and support the operation of the European Patent Office (EPO) network and information systems in The Hague."

"At the moment we explore several means by which to restore justice at the EPO."This happens in several other domains of the EPO. Work that used to be done 'in-house' is being outsourced. António Campinos did that at EUIPO, so why stop short of that a couple of years later, seeing he doesn't need to be any better than Battistelli, just come across as 'shy' and 'gentle' (the soft power skills)? Might this help explain the EPO's disregard for staff? Even some examination-related tasks are being outsourced (Serco Germany). Remember that people contracted to serve private companies are not civil servants and therefore are far more vulnerable (no safeguards such as ILO-AT)

At the moment we explore several means by which to restore justice at the EPO. Our goal is to rectify rather than destroy. We love workers of the EPO (many share the love back, so it's reciprocal); high-level management with its hidden, corrosive agenda is another matter and it's acting like a force of occupation, not inspiring and motivational people who strive to lead by good example. ⬆