Bonum Certa Men Certa

The EPO is Run by Dictators, Elected Staff Representatives Are Left Out of Key Consultations

Video download link | md5sum d61cabdab8e14a34185a0b3ba94916a6 Dictators-Run EPO Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0



Summary: Clueless politicians with no grasp (or very scarce understanding) of patent law are taking over the entire state of EPOnia; it is a recipe for disaster as it facilitates coups by "special interests" (or moneyed interests), detached entirely from scientific objectives

MR. "efficiencies" António Campinos acts as if the EPO is basically a bank. Like bankers who disregard science, laws, their native populations and so forth. The video above reminds examiners that the patent examination process should be a lot like peer review, not a business-minded escapade. The EPO's management is recklessly breaking the law, capitalising on diplomatic immunity as if it's a licence to invade courts, introduce illegal measures, and drain the life out of the whole system for personal gain. Thankfully many examiners are fighting back. They didn't join the Office to conduct clerical tasks for Campinos and his chums. They're researchers, not machines operators.



Nice one, AntónioThe Central Staff Committee (CSC) has taken note of the fact that the Office isn't even listening to staff anymore. It's basically a dictatorship (you know whose!) and it's designed to pass wealth from ordinary Europeans to plutocrats and corporations that are typically not European. Pillage and plunder (P&P) disguised as "Patents" and "Protection"[ism]...

"A GCC meeting took place on 16 February," the CSC wrote. "Two documents were submitted for information, i.e. the President did not expect our opinion on them. However, in order to do our job, we consider that we have to give our opinion on both documents, which we sent to him and which you can read..."

The General Consultative Committee (GCC) was explained here in past years and introduced in the video above.

Now on to the documents from the CSC. They've sent to staff this one page summary along with this more detailed document [PDF], an opinion with annex. Or "Target Operating Model for DG1 Organisational Steps & Other Organisational Changes (including H&S)," to use their own words.

Here's the much shorter document of the pair, as shown in the video above:



Opinion of the CSC members of the GCC on GCC/DOC 01/2022

Salary Savings Plan: Launch of two new target funds and update of Circular 317



Introduction

The list of funds in the life-cycle strategy needs to be updated at regular time intervals (e.g. on a five-year basis). The list is an integral part of Circular 317, The change in 2022 consists in the addition of two further funds in the life-cycle strategy.

On consultation

One duty of the Supervisory Committee for the Salary Savings Plan is to supervise investment management and administration for the salary savings plan. It shall also advise the President of the Office and may issue recommendations1. As a result, documents relating to the investment strategy available to the Salary Savings Plan members must be submitted to the Supervisory Committee. This has not taken place.

In addition, the document is presented to the GCC for information only. It relates to an amendment to Circular 317, which is an integral part (Part 1b) of the Service Regulations. Previous document (GCC/DOC 29/2019 REV1) was tabled to the GCC for consultation.

Therefore, the consultation process is flawed in two respects.

On the substance

The CSC members of the GCC gave a unanimous positive opinion on Circular 317 in its previous version of 2 June 2020. The change in 2022 consists in the mere addition of two further funds in the life-cycle strategy.

The CSC members of the GCC give a positive opinion on this amendment.

____ 1 See Article 4 ServRegs - Impl. R. Supervisory Committee


As noted this morning (actually recorded yesterday), there's just about ZERO MEDIA COVERAGE about this situation, a conflict inside Europe's second-largest institution. This so-called "conspiracy of silence" isn't helping Europe or the EU; these things are adding up and they'll just boil over worse than before (the Benoît Battistelli era).

To use an analogy, similarly inside corporations or institutions (e.g. government departments) that don't permit airing of grievances internally there's a build-up of silent dissent, which eventually spills over and gets "out there" like Edward Snowden's NSA leaks. Snowden had studied the stories of prior NSA whistleblowers (at least 3 of them, J. Kirk Wiebe, Thomas Drake, and William Binney) and even tested the water a bit before choosing to meet journalists in Hong Kong. The EPO is well aware of all the scandals; the European Council trying to cover things up along with the Administrative Council simply ensures that the blowback will discredit a lot more than the EPO, causing a crisis not just for the Office but the whole of the EU and pertinent national governments, including ours.

Given the lack of participation by the media, which actively keeps this crisis under the wraps, we'd like to urge readers to contact local publishers. Here's a list of them for Europe:

.ad     RTVA    https://rtva.ad/
.al     RTSH    https://rtsh.al/
.at     ORF     https://der.orf.at/
.ba     BHRT    https://bhrt.ba/
.be     RTBR    https://rtbf.be/
.be     VRT     https://vrt.be/
.bg     BNR     https://www.bnr.bg/
.bg     BNT     https:/bnt.bg/
.ch     SRGSSR  https://www.srgssr.ch/
.cy     PIK     https://cybc.com.cy/
.cz     ÄŒeská televize  http://www.ceskatelevize.cz
.cz     Český rozhlas   http://www.rozhlas.cz/
.de     BR      http://br.de/
.de     Deutschlandradio        https://www.deutschlandradio.de/
.de     DW      https://dw.com/
.de     HR      https://hr.de/
.de     MDR     https://mdr.de/
.de     NDR     http://www.ndr.de/
.de     Radiobremen     https://www.radiobremen.de/
.de     RBB     https://www.rbb-online.de/
.de     SR      https://sr.de/
.de     SWR     https://swr.de/
.de     WDR     https://wdr.de/
.de     ZDF     https://zdf.de/
.dk     DR      https://dr.dk/
.dk     TV2     https://tv2.dk/
.ee     ERR     https://www.err.ee/
.es     RTVE    https://rtve.es/
.fi     YLE     https://yle.fi/
.fo     KvF     https://kvf.fo/
.fr     France Médias Monde     http://www.francemediasmonde.com/
.fr     France Télévisions      http://www.france.tv/
.fr     Radio France    https://radiofrance.fr/
.ge     GPB     https://gpb.ge/
.gl     KNR     https://www.knr.gl/
.gr     EPT     https://int.ert.gr/
.gr     EPT     https://webradio.ert.gr/
.gr     EPT     https://www.ert.gr/
.hr     HRT     https://hrt.hr/
.hu     Duna Médiaszolgáltató   https://dunamsz.hu/
.hu     MTVA    https://mtva.hu/
.ie     RTÉ     https://rte.ie/
.ie     TG4     https://tg4.ie/
.it     RAI     https://rai.it/
.lt     LRT     https://lrt.lt/
.lu     Radio 100,7     https://100komma7.lu/
.lu     RTL     https://www.rtlgroup.com/
.lv     LR      https://www.latvijasradio.lsm.lv/
.lv     LSM     https://lsm.lv/
.lv     LTV     https://ltv.lsm.lv/lv/
.mc     MMD     https://www.mmd.mc/en/
.md     TRM     https://trm.md/
.me     RTCG    https://rtcg.me/
.mk     MPT     https://play.mrt.com.mk/
.mt     PBS     https://www.pbs.com.mt/
.nl     AVROTROS        https://www.avrotros.nl/
.nl     BNNVARA https://bnnvara.nl/
.nl     EO      https://www.eo.nl/
.nl     HUMAN   https://human.nl/
.nl     KRO-NCRV        http://kro-ncrv.nl/
.nl     MAX     https://www.omroepmax.nl/
.nl     NOS     https://nos.nl/
.nl     NPO     https://www.npo.nl/
.nl     NTR     https://ntr.nl/
.nl     PowNed  https://www.powned.tv/
.nl     STER    https://www.ster.nl/
.nl     VPRO    https://vpro.nl/
.nl     WNL     https://www.omroepwnl.nl/
.no     NRK     https://nrk.no/
.pl     SpóÅ‚ka Akcyjna  http://prsa.com.pl/
.pl     TVP     https://tvp.pl/
.pt     RTP     https://rtp.pt/
.ro     SRR     https://srr.ro/
.ro     TVR     https://tvr.ro/
.rs     RTS     https://rts.rs/
.se     SR      http://www.sr.se/
.se     SVT     https://www.svt.se/
.se     UR      https://www.ur.se/
.si     RTV     https://rtvslo.si/
.si     RÚV     https://www.ruv.is/
.sk     RTVS    https://rtvs.sk/
.sm     RTV     https://sanmarinortv.sm/
.ua     Suspilne        https://corp.suspilne.media/
.va     Statio Radiophonica Vaticana    https://www.vaticannews.va/


"The list of national broadcasters can be of use to EPO staff in reaching out about the upcoming strike," an associate told me this morning. "Given that the EPO is the second largest international organisation in Europe, the news is relevant to the member states. However, they would have to be contacted by native speakers and, preferably, residents or nationals."

Recent Techrights' Posts

European Patent Office (EPO) Series: Czech Mate: EPO Kingmaker or Merely a Pawn in the Game?
recent "missions" of the EPO President
SLAPP Censorship - Part 131 Out of 200: A Big Win for the Media in the United Kingdom (UK) Today
In a democratic society the Right to Know, which is closely connected to freedom of the press (or what one might label "blogging" or "blag"), comes above all else, except where there are lives being put at risk
IBM's Fedora Plans to Integrate Slop Into "Fedora Workstation as a Default Feature."
IBM does not care whether the community wants this or not
The Media Talks a Lot About XBox Layoffs, a Closer Look at the Data Shows Microsoft 'Bloodbath'
'Bloodbath' is the term insiders use
 
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, July 07, 2026
IRC logs for Tuesday, July 07, 2026
Links 07/07/2026: Microsoft Cuts Doom "id Software" and Turkey Detains Journalists
Links for the day
Gemini Links 07/07/2026: Old Computer Challenge (OCC) and Hardware Tests
Links for the day
A Break From the Routine
What matters is what whistleblowers keep feeding information to us
SLAPP Censorship - Part 132 Out of 200: When You Cannot Pay a Million Pounds (1,335,520.00 United States Dollar) to Lawyers But Have a Strong Community
Techrights compensates for its fiscal poverty with a wealth of community spirit
Fame is Not the Goal
"Fame" kills
Mental Health in Free Software Communities
clearly there is a subject that merits debate and it ought not be a taboo anymore
The Era of Sponsored Spam
There is no "era of AI", there is era of BRIBES to PRETEND there is an "era of AI"
Gemini Links 07/07/2026: Cleaning, Old Computer, and More
Links for the day
Links 07/07/2026: Le Monde Combats LLM Slop Plagiarism, "ACLU Launches Largest Ever Midterm Electoral Program"
Links for the day
Extremism in the Free Software World is Mostly a Myth
Only the firm belief that justice applies to all will produce a just society
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, July 06, 2026
IRC logs for Monday, July 06, 2026
Links 07/07/2026: Kernelized Secure Operating System (KSOS) and "Exploiting Thoughtcrime in LLMs"
Links for the day
SLAPP Censorship - Part 130 Out of 200: Jealousy, Envy, Hubris
This site is primarily about Free software
Gemini Links 06/07/2026: Still Mostly Dry, GoToSocial, and More
Links for the day
European Patent Office (EPO) Series: Effective Dispute Resolution… But Not For EPO Staff
Slovenia fielded one of the few Administrative Council delegations which managed to maintain its own independent line against the tyrannical EPOnian "Sun King"
Community Sites Need Genuine Collaboration and True Autonomy
People who want to communicate, federate and organise for effective change need to evolve
Free Software Foundation (FSF) Covers Quibble, Free Software for Secure Communications, in the FSF Summer Bulletin
The Georgia Tech folks are bringing Free software education and contributions to one of the better known Computer Science hubs in the US
Microsoft Layoffs Include Windows, Bing, Slop (CoPilot etc.) and There Will More More Rounds (or Waves) to Come
"43% of Xbox laid off"
Obscene Contradiction in Microsoft's Layoffs Tally ("Official" Numbers Do Not Add Up)
Notice how they treat "LinkedIn" as separate
Preserving Comments About the Real IBM Before They Get Deleted
IBM in the 1980s is not what it is right now
Cybershow on "Escaping Prisons For Your Mind"
"THE CYBER SHOW: Stealing technofascism's boots, and stomping on its own face with them."
Links 06/07/2026: At Least 20% Staff Reduction in XBox (Microsoft), Taiwan Sees Uptick in Chinese Aggression/Provocation, Senator Rodante Marcoleta Arrested
Links for the day
Confirmed: Microsoft Layoffs Come in Two Waves, Just Like Last Summer
To us, what stands out is the admission from Microsoft that there are two (or more) waves
In Praise of the UK's Stance on Free Speech (but Some Reservations)
At the moment there is a healthy discussion going on with the objective of disrupting attacks on British press
Exposing Corruption at the European Patent Office (EPO), a Call for More Whistleblowers
We predict that, provided enough whistleblowers speak out, António "the unready" won't even finish his current term
Leaving Our Pets for Several Days
This week our pets will be worried that "mommy and daddy" are away
Dating Trees and Dating 'Apps'
several high-profile stories in the news about scandals in "dating apps"
DW Documentary About Julian Assange Turns 2
It was released just days after Assange had turned 53 and about two weeks after he had left the UK
Independent Media is the Only Form of Legitimate Media
Independent media is, indeed, what we need to demand more of
The Story of the European Patent Office (EPO) Wagging the Dog (EU)
The aim of the series is to properly inform the world - not just Europeans - how Europe's second-largest institution is run [...] How did a corporate hub of monopolies become so detached from the Rule of Law?
GNU/Linux Up to New High in Libya, Windows Down to All-Time Low
GNU/Linux touches 5% there, based on statCounter
Links 06/07/2026: Artists Reject Slop (or Even de Facto Bribes to Market/Endorse Slop)
Links for the day
SLAPP Censorship - Part 129 Out of 200: Iranian Tactics
Hunger for revenge compels people to do overzealous, irrational things
Quiet Week
Many in the US are still enjoying an extended weekend
The Media Needs to Speak of Slop as a Climate Issue Like It Did With Bitcoin
But the slop industry keeps paying the media to play along with the hype
IBM's Fall
IBM's fate is closely connected to that of the Free software movement because of the salaries
Social Dialogue at the European Patent Office (EPO) is Dead, the Strikes and Work Stoppage-Like Actions Carry on
What next for the EPO?
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, July 05, 2026
IRC logs for Sunday, July 05, 2026
Links 05/07/2026: Shadows of the Upper Peninsula and 2026 Old Computer Challenge
Links for the day