Overview: [Teaser] The EPO's Deflating Patent Bubble and Pursuit of Illegal Software Patents (With Kangaroo Courts, UPC, and Bullied Examiners)

Series parts:

1. "unprecedented surge"
2. a gradually-deflating "grant bubble"
3. a demonstrable "vested interest"
4. The EPO Bubble — Part IV — A Cashflow Problem Looming on the Horizon?
5. The EPO Bubble — Part V — Propping Up the Bubble?



6. The EPO Bubble — Part VI — From Humble Examiner to CO€³
7. The EPO Bubble — Part VII — A Multifaceted Man of Letters
8. The EPO Bubble — Part VIII — The “Algerian Skirmisher” Replaces the “British Grenadier”
9. The EPO Bubble — Part IX — A Well-Remunerated Faustian Pact?
10. charge of G06Q
11. faithful lieutenant
12. YOU ARE HERE ☞ The Shape of Things to Come?

Will the EPO’s new COO Operations and his faithful lieutenant in charge of G06Q succeed in their quest to prop up the deflating "grant bubble" by turbo-charging grant rates in the ICT sector?

Summary: The crooks who have taken/cemented control of Europe's largest patent office (and Europe's second-largest institution) have placed managers without any background in computing in charge of software patenting, based solely on intent to violate the European Patent Convention (EPC) and fake 'growth' with bogus patents that harm Europe

In the introductory parts of this series it was explained how the powers-that-be who control the EPOnian "deep state" have a demonstrable "vested interest" in maintaining a high level of grants. This insight helps to explain their eagerness to prop up a gradually-deflating "grant bubble".

"...it seems that Team Campinos is being forced to explore alternative strategies to achieve the desired "results" in this regard."However, there are limits to the ability of EPO management to squeeze more "products" out of an already "sweated" workforce. For this reason it seems that Team Campinos is being forced to explore alternative strategies to achieve the desired "results" in this regard.

Certain personnel changes, notably connected with the EPO’s most recent "re-organisation" in April of this year, suggest that plans are being forged at a managerial level to push for a "harmonisation" of grant rates across different technical fields.

"Certain personnel changes, notably connected with the EPO’s most recent "re-organisation" in April of this year, suggest that plans are being forged at a managerial level to push for a "harmonisation" of grant rates across different technical fields."The underlying aim here is to strive for "upward harmonisation" in areas which historically have low grant rates. Such areas have been targeted for attention because they are perceived by EPO management as "under-performing" - that is to say, "below average" when it comes to generating national renewal fee cash-flow via granted patents.

The ICT sector is rumoured to be one of the main targets of managerial attention in this regard.

As we have seen, the "reorganisation" of April 2022 has led to a consolidation of power in the patent examination and granting area of DG1. All technical sectors have now been subsumed under the unified command of a single Chief Operating Officer.

According to insiders, this "streamlining" of the managerial command structure foreshadows a concerted "top-down" campaign for increased grant rates, under the guise of addressing "harmonisation and quality" issues.

According to insiders, the recent "streamlining" of the managerial command structure inside DG1 foreshadows a concerted "top-down" campaign for increased grant rates.

It’s still too early to say for sure what "new melodies" the freshly-appointed COO Operations (CO³) is going to conjure up to entertain his "captive audience" of examiners at the EPO.

"Amongst other things, the leaked e-mail confirms that new director in charge of G06Q, Georg Weber, has been put in place by the CO³ "with his full mandate and support to address harmonisation and quality" in that area."However, a leaked e-mail discussed in an earlier part suggests that the show is about to kick off with drastic changes in the area of computer-implemented "business and administrative methods" (CPC class G06Q).

Amongst other things, the leaked e-mail confirms that new director in charge of G06Q, Georg Weber, has been put in place by the CO³ "with his full mandate and support to address harmonisation and quality" in that area.

From the aforementioned e-mail it is clear that examiners in the G06Q area are being gently "nudged" in the direction of less refusals and more grants.

According to available information, examiners in the G06Q area are being gently "nudged" in the direction of less refusals and more grants.

Of course, it goes without saying that if such "nudging" fails to produce the desired results then more drastic France-Télécom-style measures might have to be adopted in due course…

"...it is reported that examiners in the ICT sector are nervously awaiting a turbulent wave of "egg-breaking" which is forecast to be be looming on the horizon."According to EPO insiders, the new CO³, Razik Menidjel, is fond of regaling the directors under his command with tales of how he served his managerial apprenticeship under the guiding influence of his hero and role-model "Benoît" [Battistelli].

His proudest boast is reported to be that, during this time, he learned "how to break eggs".

Razik Menidjel, is reported to be fond of boasting about how he learned to "break eggs" while serving his managerial apprenticeship under the despotic EPO boss Benoît Battistelli.

It’s still not entirely clear what kind of omelette Razik is intent on serving up to his underlings over the coming months. But it is reported that examiners in the ICT sector are nervously awaiting a turbulent wave of "egg-breaking" which is forecast to be be looming on the horizon.

What is most striking here is that neither the new CO³ nor the director whom he has placed in charge of G06Q would appear to have any background in the area of "information and communications technology".

"What is most striking here is that neither the new CO³ nor the director whom he has placed in charge of G06Q would appear to have any background in the area of "information and communications technology"."In particular, neither of them have any discernible technical experience in matters relating to computer programming and software. The CO³ (Razik Menidjel) has a doctorate from the chemistry faculty of the University of Göttingen and the director (Georg Weber) is a graduate of the Vienna University of Agriculture.

Nevertheless - at least in the eyes of the powers-that-be who control the EPOnian "deep state" - this evident lack of relevant technical expertise does not constitute an obstacle to the intrepid duo’s ambitious managerial plans to shake up examination and granting practices in G06Q.

Will António Campinos soon be channelling his mentor Benoît Battistelli and boasting about an "unprecedented surge" in the number of grants in the ICT sector?

Will Campinos soon be channelling Battistelli and boasting about an "unprecedented surge" in the number of grants in the ICT sector?

For the moment, this remains a matter of speculation. There can be no "early certainty" about whether the plans of the EPO’s senior management to prop up the deflating "grant bubble" will succeed.

"In particular, neither of them have any discernible technical experience in matters relating to computer programming and software."In the meantime, anybody with an interest in the controversial topic of so-called "software patents" would be well advised to keep a watchful eye on the evolution of grant rates in the G06Q area. ⬆