THE patients in Europe rapidly grow in number, but who cares, right? More patents. MOAR and MOAR patents, everybody!
"Let them eat patents!"As it turns out, neither Benoît Battistelli nor António Campinos ever cared to understand patents. Battistelli was only introduced to that domain some time in his fifties. Campinos used to do trademarks, but somehow he's a patenting expert now (never mind if patent law and trademark law are inherently different). No wonder he's advocating software patents in Europe even if European software developers say "No!" to such patents. Who cares... MOAR food! More patents. Let them eat patents!
"Campinos was apparently exploiting COVID-19 as an excuse for curtailing activity of staff representatives..."This kind of misguided attitude is what led to the collapse of quality and morale at the EPO. Examiners who are actually scientists (unlike Battistelli and Campinos) cannot stand the ignorance of their bosses, who surround themselves with old colleagues and friends rather than competent people.
Half a year ago the people who actually do all the work at the EPO (examiners, scientists) sought to alert their so-called 'president' (who was 'elected' by nepotism through his old friend and compatriot Battistelli) about a growing issue.
Campinos was apparently exploiting COVID-19 as an excuse for curtailing activity of staff representatives:
A week later a response was sent:
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From: Joachim Michels On Behalf Of centralstcom Sent: 28 April 2020 17:27 To: PRESIDENT <president@epo.org>
Subject: RE: Future means of communication for the Staff Committee and organisation of the Staff Committee election
Dear Mr President, dear António,
Thank you for your letter of 22 April 2020. We understand the concerns you express about the forthcoming elections of the Staff Committee under the current exceptional circumstances. Indeed, candidates and staff would ideally expect adequate campaign and election processes.
At this time a postponement would imply the extension of our mandate. We feel it is not within our remit to request such an extension beyond the term laid down in the Service Regulations.
Thank you for your kind understanding,
Joachim Michels On behalf of all Staff Committees
Forthcoming Staff Committee elections
Mr Campinos maintains the elections in June despite current pandemic
On 22 April, Mr Campinos wrote a letter to the CSC where he stated the following: “In light of the above, please send me your position in writing by 28 April at latest, on whether you are in favour of holding the election in June, or if you prefer to request a postponement. If this written indication does not reach my secretariat by this date, please be aware that it will be understood you are in favour of holding the Staff Committee election in June 2020, as foreseen.”
The local and central Staff Committees replied to Mr Campinos by email on 28 April, stating: “At this time a postponement would imply the extension of our mandate. We feel it is not within our remit to request such an extension beyond the term laid down in the Service Regulations.”
The President sent another letter to the CSC on 30 April where he stated: “I would like to confirm that I have received your reply on 28 April. As you know, your reply did not request a postponement of the staff elections and it is therefore understood that you wish the elections to take place in June.”
We are strongly disappointed that Mr Campinos tries to present his own decision as being ours, and that he took his decision without consulting EPO staff. We recall that, before the “social democracy” framework was imposed on EPO Staff in 2014, it was the Electoral Committee composed exclusively of staff members directly elected by staff, which was in charge of organising the Staff Committee elections.