Summary: Rumours that Belgium made a back room deal with Battistelli may be further substantiated with the just-confirmed appointment of Archambeau

THE predictions we made turn out to be right on point again. Not only did António Campinos swap a seat with Battistelli at EPO but also at a French institution. We've called that "musical chairs".

"Did corrupt Battistelli make an alleged 'exchange' with Belgium (similar to a vote-buying exercise) and what did Campinos know throughout all this?"Archambeau, who came from the EPO and is Belgian, also gets the top job at EU-IPO (just published in German is Helena Hause's article titled "EUIPO successor: Archambeau to become the new Executive Director").

The Belgian Jérôme Debrulle is rumoured to have played an indirect role. In reverse chronological order, here is an explanation of what's going on here and what happened behind the scenes:

• Fresh Allegations That the Belgian EPO Delegation is Compromised or in Cahoots With Benoît Battistelli
• The Hogwash Begins: Patent Microcosm's Media Pretends Campinos is Anything But Battistelli's French Succession Plan
• Christian Archambeau on the Verge of EUIPO and EPO, Making the Two Less Distinguishable
• EPO Rumours About Antonio Campinos as Replacement for Benoît Battistelli

Did corrupt Battistelli make an alleged 'exchange' with Belgium (similar to a vote-buying exercise) and what did Campinos know throughout all this? It would be a damn shame if EU-IPO, part of the EU, got embroiled in or tainted by EPO corruption. As readers may recall, there was already a scandal associated with the immunity of António Campinos at the EU-IPO. Is anyone ever going to properly investigate these things? ⬆