European Patent Office (EPO) Strikes and Other Industrial Actions Are Working: Patent Application Grants Have Collapsed

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Apr 17, 2026

Even before the strikes happened any day of the week

The cocaine presidency isn't working out too well. It's hard to believe it'll be long-lived. The following was sent to staff this week:

Open letter to the President

Dear SUEPO members,
Dear Colleagues,

The President has not replied to the open letter of 23 March 2026 inviting him to engage in negotiations on the Salary Adjustment Procedure (SAP).

This absence of any response is particularly concerning in light of the ongoing and escalating industrial actions across all sites of the European Patent Office.

The President emphasised that social dialogue is a priority of his presidency. Its current absence risks reinforcing negative perceptions, certainly among staff, but likely also within the Administrative Council. The current situation is not only an internal matter but has broader financial implications for the Organisation as a whole.

In an open letter sent on Wednesday 16 April, the SUEPO committees of all places of employment reiterate their call for the President to engage without delay.

If you're in a hurry reading all this, then at least look at the chart below (those months predate the full "wrath" or intensity or frequency of strikes). The following open letter is dated the same as Dr. Stallman's talk in Texas and our trip to London.

INTERNATIONALE GEWERKSCHAFT IM EUROPÄISCHEN PATENTAMT
STAFF UNION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE
UNION SYNDICALE DE L'OFFICE EUROPEEN DES BREVETS

Zentraler Vorstand
Central Executive Committee
Bureau central

15 April 2026
su26005cl - 0.3.1

Mr António Campinos President of the European Patent Organisation

– by email –

OPEN LETTER

Re. Invitation to Negotiate on the Salary Adjustment Procedure (SAP)

Dear Mr Campinos,

You have not replied to our open letter of 23 March 2026 inviting you to engage in negotiations on the Salary Adjustment Procedure (SAP).

This absence of any response is particularly concerning in light of the ongoing and escalating industrial actions across all sites of the European Patent Office. After the three warning strike days resulted in no meaningful dialogue, staff have since voted to significantly intensify the strike schedule, in Munich and Berlin to every Monday and Friday and in The Hague and Vienna to every single working day at least until the end of June. In this context, it is particularly concerning that our invitation to meet with you has gone unanswered. At a time of rising tensions, proactive engagement is essential.

You have emphasised that social dialogue is a priority of your presidency. Its current absence risks reinforcing negative perceptions, certainly among staff, but likely also within the Administrative Council. The current situation is not only an internal matter but has broader financial implications for the Organisation as a whole.

The industrial action is having a direct and measurable impact on the Office’s output, with reduced production levels affecting core activities, including grants as seen below.

Beyond the decline in production figures, your silence over staff’s concerns is affecting staff morale and confidence in your leadership. This is the direct result of your decision to propose this SAP, undermining trust and jeopardising the previously robust functioning of the Office.

At a time when the Office’s strong financial position is undisputed, a lack of engagement on measures further affecting staff purchasing power is difficult to justify.

We reiterate our call for you to engage without delay. We remain available at any time to meet and work towards a fair, legal, and sustainable solution.

The Local Bureaus of SUEPO

Derek Kelly
Chair of SUEPO Munich

Fausto Ciotta
Chair of SUEPO The Hague

Michael Sampels
Vice-Chair of SUEPO Berlin

Johannes Schaaf
Chair of SUEPO Vienna

Can patent sanity - rather than patent maximalism - be restored? Are we better off with more monopolies? How many? Should they cover maths and nature?

Since the EPO's management lacks any practical background in patents, it tends to believe everything is better when it's "high". █