The pattern of Microsoft bed-sharing continues at the EPO

Summary: The EPO just can't help providing special treatment to Microsoft, not only when it comes to patent applications but also when it comes to rejecting stakeholders/applicants who dare not become Microsoft customers

THE EPO just doesn't seem capable of shaking off the impression that it is in bed with Microsoft -- an impression that led the EPO to repeatedly make threats against me (it was always about Microsoft and the leak which got them upset made it into Italian television earlier this month). We previously gave examples in articles such as:

• You Need to Become Proprietary Software Customer (Microsoft Recommended) to Interact with the European Patent Office
• European Patent Office a Microsoft Stronghold: GNU/Linux and Mac Support Seemingly Just Dumped
• Microsoft at EPO: A Look Into the Relationship
• Scandalous: European Patent Office Serves Only Microsoft Customers With Filing Software

"Unitary Patent court filing software will be for Microsoft customers only," noted Benjamin Henrion (FFII) this afternoon, as the "EPO is spreading good old .exe [in] http://www.epo.org/applying/online-services/online-filing/download.html#more"

Is anybody surprised by this? The above 4 examples are some among many. The EPO doesn't seem to care about people who avoid back doors and choose a brand other than Microsoft. ⬆