Stuck in unknown state (is it EUIPO or EPO?)

Source: Interview from last summer

Summary: EUIPO/EPO overlap and the exceptional case of Christian Archambeau, who left the EPO for EUIPO but was guaranteed a post back at the EPO

IN our recent article titled "EUIPO and the Shady Relation to the EPO" we took note/stock of the EPO's mysterious connections to OHIM, which was recently renamed EUIPO. There is very little that either party is willing to tell the European public.

We have received some rather interesting information about Christian Archambeau. The above video describes him as "Vice President of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM)," which is the old name of EUIPO. But is that all he is? He comes from the EPO and he is not liked all that much, based on what some people from the EPO told us.

"I read your posting about EUIPO and its connections with the EPO," one reader told us. "I was surprised to see that the fact of EUIPO’s #2 [PDF] being Christian Archambeau, former Director personnel of the EPO (2002-2010), was not mentioned.

"See also comment #3 in "The Alicantation of the European Patent Office"" (direct link)

To quote:

Might I respectfully suggest that 'alicantisation' is more pleasing to the ear?

Must also respectfully traverse opinion of Ms. Cookson: UPC is also an EU body and thus not suitable as a place to park DG3.

Ah, Alicante. One of our (EPO) Principal Directors, a certain Christian Archambeau, went there to be a Vice President. He was not greatly missed. Unfortunately, he is on contract there and, for some absurd reason, has the right to be integrated back into EPO if he returns.

One rule for them...

Our reader tells us that Archambeau "joined EUIPO in 2010 but remained on the staff list of the EPO for quite some time. I am not sure this is still the case, but at least up to 2015 (as far as I am aware of) he was guaranteed a post back at the EPO should he had wished to return. Rumors were that he was/is aiming for a VP post. In the meantime I checked older posts and the name of Archambeau has popped up earlier in a different context at Techrights."

Perhaps this is worth noting in light of the possibility that EUIPO’s #1 will become EPO President. ⬆