Bonum Certa Men Certa

USPTO's and EPO's Leaderships Have Similar Technical and Ethical Problems

Watchdogs speak out about it, based on information insiders have (and pass around)

A Techeye



Summary: Patent office whistleblower says that the "hey hi" (AI) hype we've become so accustomed to at the European Patent Office (EPO) has been misused as money gets overspent on things that don't work (like at the EPO) and there are persistent issues like nepotism (like at the EPO)

IT was noted a few years ago that a whistleblower (ish) from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had created a Twitter account (USPTO CIO Watchdog on Twitter) and tweeted a bunch of information about nepotism and corruption at the Office. In past years we wrote a number of articles about that (including the latest appointment). The claims can be affirmed by checking the professional background of the named individuals and their spouses, in-laws etc.

One can, moreover, check downtime duration/frequency to assess the degree to which misconduct, corruption and nepotism lead to failure. Technical incompetence leads to technical issues, low morale, and bad coordination. One's technical and professional background gives much of that away.

"It's important to know who's doing what."The Twitter account doesn't make things impersonal; it always names the culprits irrespective of gender, race etc. It's important to know who's doing what.

A few days ago we mentioned one nugget of information, which was soon followed by another that says CIO of "USPTO always thinks changing the process is the key to success, but, like the corporate world, results are the real measure. Debbie has no experience delivering anything, except process. CIO, after a one year road trip, what you got?"

"Notice how far this whole "hey hi" (AI) nonsense has traveled. The media brought it back to life a few years ago -- seemingly out of nowhere!"This refers to a puff piece interview and there's another from the Office's "Marketing and Communications" person. It's one which the Office back then mentioned as follows: "In the latest #blog, Acting Deputy CIO Debbie Stephens discusses her career as a tech executive and upcoming USPTO projects such as using artificial intelligence to fuel efficiencies in patent search..."

The whistleblower said: "We find this laughable? Tech Exec? She is one of the main reason the previous CIOs efforts failed. Millions of fee money spent with nothing to show. What new as come out since the new Dep and CIO have come aboard. AI is pipe dream, they cant write basic working apps..."

"Hey hi,"I responded, "is a rather meaningless and resurrected buzzword that the USPTO misuses to grant illegal software patents" (invalidated by 35 U.S.C. €§ 101). Notice how far this whole "hey hi" (AI) nonsense has traveled. The media brought it back to life a few years ago -- seemingly out of nowhere!

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