Bonum Certa Men Certa

An Atmosphere of Revolt Inside the European Patent Office

Courage Is Contagious

Staff demo



Summary: Cartoons from within the EPO demonstrate the level of mockery and the general working atmosphere at the Office these days

EARLIER today we showed that the level of ridicule at the EPO has become rather standard. We too decided to join the fun with some humour. A source has just told us that "anonymous staff groups start to organise protest actions," having shared with us several items that are being circulated. The above and below are just two among several more. It certainly looks like things are getting out of hand as the staff rejects the authority of superiors, for these superiors have proven that they do not deserve respect.



"It certainly looks like things are getting out of hand as the staff rejects the authority of superiors, for these superiors have proven that they do not deserve respect.""The unfair attacks of the EPO administration on several staff representatives," we are told, "created an anarchy-style of staff protest. Staff started to build private communication networks, and anonymous staff groups organised first spontaneous demos.

"On 15 December, about 120 persons participated in an “ad-hoc gathering” in the Dutch EPO branch. They protested against the suspensions of three Munich staff representatives and the ongoing disciplinary proceedings. Satiric cartoons express the level of fairness EPO staff expect from Mr Battistelli's attitude to justice."

See the cartoon below.

Fair trial



No organisation can survive like this. What are patent applicants supposed to think? The Administrative Council has a lot of work left to do if it wishes to salvage what's left of the European Patent Organisation. Benoît Battistelli's Office is demonstrably in shambles.

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