Summary: There's no change in the EU; the EUIPO and EPO enjoy complete and total immunity/impunity, with the Commission being manned by those who are deeply complicit

YESTERDAY morning, Anastasiia Kyrylenko over at IP Kat was boosting Microsoft's propaganda/pressure group ACT (Association for Competitive Technology), along with all sorts of other patent maximalists, which TechDirt rightly warns about this week (Watch Out: The Patent Maximalists Are On The Warpath To Destroy Innovation And Empower Patent Trolls).

"...notice the role then played by the European Commission, which is not yet answering hard (but perfectly legitimate) questions about EPO corruption."As usual, by the standards of today's "Kats" (loyal to Benoît Battistelli and António Campinos, unlike the people who left the blog in recent years), there's also EPO PR tucked in to say this:

The last week of November will be a treat for fans of geographical indications. First, the Joint EUIPO/EPO Interactive webinar, “Geographical Indications and Food Technology”, will be held on November 24 (follow here for the registration and details). On November 25 and 26, the European Commission will give an online conference, “Strengthening geographical indications”, to discuss the prospective GI reform in the EU.

“Geographical Indications" (GIs) aren't a patent thing (it's the EUIPO's ballpark), so EPO is in it for so-called "Food Technology" (funny term for sure). Is that a new name for all sorts of things looking to create and cement monopolies on foods, including GMOs (like patents on seeds, plants, fruit, animals and genetics/bodies)? But more importantly, notice the role then played by the European Commission, which is not yet answering hard (but perfectly legitimate) questions about EPO corruption.

Is the European Commission with the likes of Mr. Breton merely an extension of this corruption now? Consider its stance on the patently unconstitutional UPC. Breton ignores constitutions and court rulings/caselaw. It has meanwhile been noticed by Benjamin Henrion, potentially poised to file another constitutional complaint (FFII is raising money this week), that the EPO plays dirty with both words and actions. It's shown to the right, albeit only in "tweet" form (it merits more than just "tweets").

(Re-)Making up the story as they go along? Does Team UPC control both the Commission and the EPO? ⬆