12.19.19
Gemini version available ♊︎Issues Cannot be Treated in Complete Isolation When Everything is Connected
Captain Campinos goes to Zimbabwe. African countries aren’t even listed as top applicants, so it’s more about reinforcing ‘European [patent] supremacy’ in Africa (with virtually nothing for Africans to gain).
Summary: Africans are once again targeted by the man whose father was born in Africa (Portuguese colonialism) to reinforce colonialism, this time using patent monopolies
WE HAVE certainly deviated somewhat from the topic of software patents in Europe, seeing all sorts of abuses that are connected to that or facilitate those patents, e.g. the UPC.
“We mean no disrespect to Africa, but objectively speaking Africa does not account for many European Patents.”The European Patent Office (EPO) is once again signing deals for António Campinos photo ops, agreements being signed with places that have virtually no European Patents. The latest example is “EPO and ARIPO sign agreement on Reinforced Partnership” (warning: epo.org link) and to quote:
In an effort to enhance international co-operation in order to strengthen the global patent system, the EPO has signed a Reinforced Partnership agreement with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). Under the Memorandum of Understanding, signed on 16 December by EPO President António Campinos and ARIPO Director General Fernando dos Santos in Zimbabwe, the EPO will support ARIPO in building up its capacity to efficiently search and examine patent applications that are validated in its member states.
We mean no disrespect to Africa, but objectively speaking Africa does not account for many European Patents. Calculating the sums and percentages is possible (open data); it only takes time. Battistelli did the same kinds of things, usually in former French colonies. Campinos is hardly different from him.
For over a decade we’ve repeatedly argued that Africa stands to gain little or nothing (or only lose) from acceptance of these Western orders — a system of codified (into law) protectionism, monopolisation etc. ARIPO is likely more of a Western construct (originally) than a truly African entity, working to advance African interests. For natural resources Africa is the world’s ‘warehouse’ or ‘bank’ (it should be noted that China too — not just ‘the West’ — exploits the continent and uses debt as an extraction and oppression tool). This view is actually not controversial at all; there are two types of people — those who speak about the matters and those who don’t.
“For over a decade we’ve repeatedly argued that Africa stands to gain little or nothing (or only lose) from acceptance of these Western orders — a system of codified (into law) protectionism, monopolisation etc.”As readers are aware, Breton is now a Commissioner in the EU and it seems rather obvious he’d support the UPC as well as software patents. Having just published part 19 of the Thierry Breton series, we’re ready to finish it all by year’s end. “The project fell behind schedule as a lot of new material was uncovered,” said the authors, “especially about Breton’s current political patron, Emmanuel Macron.”
There’s lots more to come.
“The series has now been expanded to 24 parts in total,” the authors noted. “To round things off, there will be one further installment in the form of an epilogue.”
We now focus on financial aspects, which are inherent in the patent system. Breton’s connections to patents and the EPO are very much noteworthy. His role in the EU is widely viewed (by very many) as a form of corporate colonialism, turning democracy into governance by corporations. █
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