Reference: Style over substance

Recent articles from Techrights have inspired Danish mainstream media coverage regarding the EPO, notably this recent series of Danish stories. We have asked some Scandinavian people to explain to us what was said in the press and we are still trying to digest the message, along with any other new information that it brings up.

"The first one gives details about the "harassment" to which Kongstad is allegedly being subjected.""For your information," one reader told us, "Berlingske has just published three pieces about the EPO referring to recent Techrights articles.

"No translations yet but Google Translate gives some idea of the content."

Here is an overview of the stories:

1. The first one gives details about the "harassment" to which Kongstad is allegedly being subjected.

Chikane mod dansk topembedsmand: Hængt ud for skattesnyd (Danish link) ("Harassment of top Danish official - denunciation for tax evasion")

"The next one cites some comments from the Danish patent expert George Brock-Nannestad who is critical of the direction being taken by EPO management."Direktøren for Patent- og Varemærke­styrelsen, der ogsÃ¥ er formand for det europæiske patentkontor EPO, tæppe­bombes med beskyldninger om smarte investeringer og dyremishandling. ("The Director of the DKPTO who is also Chairman of the EPO [Administrative Council] has been carpet-bombed with accusations about smart investments and cruelty to animals")

2. The next one cites some comments from the Danish patent expert George Brock-Nannestad who is critical of the direction being taken by EPO management.

Dansk patentekspert: Ledelsen på forkert kurs (Danish link) ("Danish patent expert: The management is on the wrong course").

En kontaktperson fra den centrale fagforening hos EPO, SUEPO (Staff Union of the European Patent Office), afviser i en mail over for Berlingske, at SUEPO samarbejder med den kritiske internet-blog Techrights.com om chikane mod EPOs bestyrelsesformand Jesper Kongstad, som er direktør for Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen. Den pÃ¥gældende har ifølge eget udsagn været udsat for repressalier fra ledelsen og ­ønsker derfor ikke at fÃ¥ sit navn frem. Det er en mangeÃ¥rig europæisk patentagent (European Patent Attorney) til gengæld ikke bange for. EPO-ledelsen er pÃ¥ vildspor og er ved at ødelægge den europæiske patentorganisation, mener George Brock-Nannestad.

"This one refers to "anonymous activists" who have complained about Kongstad and called for an investigation."("In an email to Berlingske a contact person from the central trade union at the EPO, SUEPO (Staff Union of the European Patent Office), denies that SUEPO has cooperated with the critical Internet blog Techrights in the harassment of EPO chairman Jesper Kongstad, who is the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office. Those questioned are according to themselves exposed to reprisals from management and therefore do not wish to be named. On the other hand, a longtime European patent agent (European Patent Attorney) is not afraid. EPO management is on the wrong track and is destroying the European Patent Organisation, says George Brock-Nannestad.")

3. The last one seems to be a bit of a puff piece where they give Kongstad a bit of column space to explain the necessity for the "reform" process at the EPO and how wonderful the working conditions there are...

Lønninger og goder »uden sidestykke i Europa« (Danish link) ("Salaries and benefits "unparalleled in Europe '")

De ansatte demonstrerer EPO har et budget pÃ¥ omkring 15 milliarder kr. og behandler Ã¥rligt flere hundrede tusinde ­ansøgninger om patenter fra europæiske virksomheder. Konflikten i EPO har de seneste par Ã¥r ført til voldsomme anklager om magtmisbrug, brud pÃ¥ retssikkerheden og beskyldninger om undertrykkelse af fag­foreninger. Jesper Kongstad var i sidste uge til bestyrelsesmøde i EPOs hovedkvarter i München, hvor ledelsen, som det er sket flere gange før, blev mødt med demonstrationer fra de ansatte.

"It's typical to accuse the messenger or the style rather than the substance."("The staff demonstrates The EPO has a budget of about 15 billion DKK and each year it processes hundreds of thousands of applications for patents from European companies. The conflict in the EPO has in recent years led to fierce accusations of abuse of power, breach of legal certainty and accusations of repression of trade unions. Last week Jesper Kongstad attended a board meeting in the EPO headquarters in Munich, where as has happened several times before, the management was met with protests from the employees.")

As of today, there is an additional (fourth) article. This one refers to "anonymous activists" who have complained about Kongstad and called for an investigation.

»Professor Gadget« og »Freiherr von Bimbes« om smædekampagne: Dansk topembedsmand bør undersøges

"Den danske topembedsmand Jesper Kongstad er genstand for massiv chikane i forbindelse med en konflikt i det europæiske patentkontor. Anonyme bagmænd uddyber her hvorfor."

("The Danish top official Jesper Kongstad is attracting a lot of harassment in connection with the conflict in the European Patent Office. Anonymous activists explain why here.")

"It's not easy to find native English speakers that are fluent in Danish, which is what a quality translation would entail."We have asked for some feedback from people who can comprehend a bit of Danish. "Kongstad complains about the personal attacks and refers to Techrights," one person told us. "Your style is accused of not being 'Danish', also the »Professor Gadget« and »Freiherr von Bimbes« are mentioned. I hope they / he are keeping it civilized and more 'Danish'.

"You're quoted in that one," the person said about the second article and regarding the third we have been told that "[i]t's good that its in the Economics section of the paper. Though I take issue with their use of the term 'chikane' but it's not directed at Techrights explicitly."

It's typical to accuse the messenger or the style rather than the substance.

"Are we going to see an actual debunking from Kongstad or is he just hoping that nobody will bother finding out what he has been up to?"We hope to get translations of these soon. It's not easy to find native English speakers that are fluent in Danish, which is what a quality translation would entail.

Are we going to see an actual debunking from Kongstad or is he just hoping that nobody will bother finding out what he has been up to? Our Web site has been barely accessibly today because too many people do try to figure out what Kongstad is doing in his home. ⬆