THE EPO already undergoes layoffs, albeit in 'shadowed' form, as we've repeatedly noted. There was a severe case of firing for that notorious "incompetence" less than a week ago, i.e. only a few days after the summer vacation had ended.

"There's meanwhile nothing that can save the Office."The latest Isar rumour, according to a reliable source, is that many examiners will be removed soon because of "incompetence".

We doubt that even examiners would be surprised if they heard that. It's almost expected and we're guessing that the rumour is based on something that someone heard from the management. We already heard similar rumours half a year ago (the numbers suggested around 1,000 firings).

So much for a future-proof Office of "excellence," as Battistelli loved to put it. He excused his own incompetence by asserting that others were incompetent... while calling those who spoke out about it "Nazis" (the projection tactics go a long way at the EPO).

António Campinos is already experienced at layoffs and covering them up.

There's meanwhile nothing that can save the Office. Applications are slow to come in, the costs have become harder to justify because of the declining quality of examination, and the UPC is dead. ⬆