This month: SUEPO (Staff Union of EPO): “The Imbalance Between the Importance of (Patent) Quality and Quantity Remains a Cause for Concern” and Only 3% of EPO Staff Has Confidence in President Campinos

Were the 'redshirts' a giveaway?

Summary: Europe's most autocratic institution continues to cheat and lie to everybody; even twice in one day, together with... the Communist Party of China (through CNIPA)

THE FARCE of António Campinos, orchestrated for exactly 2 years as of 15 minutes ago (CET), can only ever deepen due to denial, due to lies, due to cover-up (for Benoît Battistelli before him). Not only does he meddle in the affairs of the Boards -- which the European Patent Office (EPO) is supposed to be separate from -- he also pressures them to allow software patents in Europe (a decision on computer simulations will likely be ready later this year).

Techrights has written about the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) since 2006 and never did it encounter a behaviour quite so scandalous. PTAB is still applying 35 U.S.C. ۤ 101 'in peace' (no judge being punished by Lee or Iancu, not directly anyway).

"Patents found to be invalid? Abolish those who demonstrate that, immediately!"But just like in China, in EPOnia (Bavaria) we have this truly absurd situation; the tyrants at the top terrorise if not oust/arrest potential exposers. So they pretend all is well and have us believe that things are perfect, totally functional... "everything is under control!"

Control. Yes, even the narrative. Patents found to be invalid? Abolish those who demonstrate that, immediately!

Liars from management of the EPO again (warning: epo.org link) join hands with the Communist Party of China (CPC, CCP in some cases) to exploit a nasty virus and promote their own virus, which includes corruption, fraud and killing of dissent (or truth-tellers). Having done this with the USPTO about a month ago, now they have "Joint statement of EPO and CNIPA on response to COVID-19" and it says that "EPC member countries also filed 42,000 invention patent applications in China, marking an increase of 4.9% over the previous year."

China isn't exactly renowned for patent quality; quite the opposite! So what do these numbers even tell us, really?

Here's more of that fluff about "harmonisation in the patent system":

After over three decades of strong bilateral co-operation, the EPO and CNIPA have built a comprehensive strategic partnership that contributes to higher quality patents and greater harmonisation in the patent system. The relationship between China and Europe is also reflected in the growing number of applications received by the EPO and the CNIPA. In 2019 the EPO received almost 30% more applications from the People's Republic of China than in the previous year. EPC member countries also filed 42,000 invention patent applications in China, marking an increase of 4.9% over the previous year.

A few hours apart, based on the timestamps (which aren't reliable in the EPO's case; they often contradict URL slug and the CMS has profound publication lag), the EPO also published a bundle of lies consistent with its culture of corruption, crimes, systematic looting and fraud. This second piece (warning: epo.org link) brags about "timeliness of the Office's search, examination" (because hey, it could just grant each application in one second; wouldn't that be just absolutely perfect for "timeliness"?).

Here's more:

The Annual Review 2019 shows that the EPO successfully dealt with a record number of applications last year. The Office received 181 406 European patent applications in 2019[1], up 4.0% over 2018. In response, our patent examiners carried out a total of 421 250 search, examination and opposition products. A major effort was made in reducing the backlog of work, with the classification backlog being eliminated entirely - an important milestone for the Office. Last year the EPO also published 137 787 European patents, +8% compared to 2018. And the timeliness of the Office's search, examination and opposition work all continued to improve.

So the EPO significantly lowers patent quality and then it brags about "growth"...

Fantastic!

Just what the chef ordered.

And where to even begin disputing this? It's propaganda from start to finish.

How can these people tell so many lies with a straight face? You have to be a crook to work as a manager there, or perhaps a blindly loyal mate of the President, whom you know will reward you with bonuses at times of financial uncertainty.

SUEPO is rightly upset; the staff, which SUEPO represents (most workers are in that union or about half; we don't have recent enough figures), is also upset. The systematic attacks on their rights, on their salary and on their pensions aren't a coincidence. Many of them stay up until late at night (if not throughout the night) to make the above possible, even if patents are often granted against the spirit and practice of the EPC. Then the management just lies about the whole thing, takes credit for everything, and collectively punishes all the examiners (again).

There's much to be said about Chinese labour standards. Ask examines how many hours a week they've recently spent working from a 'shoebox' called home, with little equipment at hand and with unreasonable "targets" to meet.

Hey, Campinos... a gentle advice/suggestion for you: Convert the EPO's buildings into little apartments/compartments with 8 bunk beds in each. Because who needs to go home anyway? It harms "productivity"; let them leave twice a month, provide basic meals, sleep can be done/completed on their desks and pensions aren't needed as they'll likely die from work-related issues (prematurely). Just don't forget to set up "suicide nets" near all the windows, OK? The last thing you want is Interpol/Europol entering the premises to conduct an investigation. ⬆