Bonum Certa Men Certa

Patent Maximalists Have Ruined the European Patent Office, Which Became a Lying Organisation That Bullies Everyone

Maximal



Summary: An introspection of the second-largest institution in Europe, which together with EUIPO just lies to the public in order to justify what it does

THE European Patent Office (EPO) is quite the extremist organisation. It's a bully. It's a thug. Both inwards and outwards. It tortures its staff mentally, sometimes into suicide. It also intimidates journalists and bloggers. The EPO now employs a law firm to also bully a disabled person. How can they even find the moral courage? Or immoral 'courage'... how?



A lot of greedy law firms and their lawyers go wherever the money is (here's a new article to that effect). Some of these pompous sociopaths even took the EPO's money to bully me. And for what? For exposing corruption at the EPO? Several law firms and several different people sent me threatening letters. They're SLAPP lawyers. They're not using their licence to do justice but to protect injustice. How about all those people who work in “AYE PEE”? They do not protect “property”; they protect rich raiders from better equality in society. They’re complicit in unjust oppression. I'm not against patents (per se or otherwise); I never was; what I oppose is patent extremism, which is what I believe the EPO to have given in to. The EPO is a thuggish institution which breaks laws at every level. Nobody should tolerate this (anywhere!), no matter one's views on patents and patent scope. If we value the law itself -- including patent law -- then every violation of it (or attempts to discard it) should be strongly condemned.

"Nobody should tolerate this (anywhere!), no matter one's views on patents and patent scope. If we value the law itself -- including patent law -- then every violation of it (or attempts to discard it) should be strongly condemned."Patent extremism isn't a new problem; we mentioned it earlier this week and we write about it virtually every week (in one form or another). Consider the AIPPI Congress "Report" (lengthy coverage in [1, 2, 3]) from IP Kat. It comes almost exclusively from a chronically lying firm, Bristows LLP. Sarah Blair (formerly of Bristows) via Annsley Merelle Ward (Bristows) wrote about the AIPPI Congress, which we mentioned here last week. It's an echo chamber of patent extremists. This is their annual 'Mecca'. Curiously enough, this UPC propagandist barely even mentioned UPC, except in this (in the third part): "He completed a spirited run-through of the different IP rights and how they may be affected by Brexit, the current state of the Unified Patent Court, exhaustion and enforcement in record time."

Nothing else was said about UPC. Maybe she too is belatedly sobering up a bit? After years of Kool-Aid?

Either way, the EPO persists with its toxic agenda. As soon as this week began the EPO wrote about translations made by a computer (as it habitually does). People can read these, maybe, but not understand. These automated translations are notoriously awful and not legally valid. But the EPO is racing to the bottom with automated texts, low quality of service, and unmanned services (AI or “HEY HI!”). It's all about cost-cutting, but at what expense? Can we rely on such a system?

"Last week," the same account continued, "EPO examiners from all areas exchanged know-how and learned about the newest #techtrends at a conference in The Hague. It was our first event aimed at harmonising best practices & developing patenting competencies."

They then mention 3-D printing; certainly the EPO knows that 3-D printing is a case against the patent system because just like UAVs it's an area where patents held back innovation for several decades. This is common knowledge; it's routinely being mentioned online and offline.

On the same day the EPO spoke of "[t]he very first EPO- @LESIntl conference will be in Dublin. If you want to learn how to create an IP strategy that supports your business strategy..."

"They then mention 3-D printing; certainly the EPO knows that 3-D printing is a case against the patent system because just like UAVs it's an area where patents held back innovation for several decades."Why even be baffled when the EPO can just liaise with a patent trolls' front group, in public, rather than pretend otherwise? We can all see whose interests EPO management serves. For the second day in a row the EPO then tweeted or retweeted promotion of its alliance with this patent trolls' front group: "Register now for the Intellectual Property themed conference in Dublin @EPOorg @LESintl and listen to the podcast which interviews Jürgen Graner..."

Yesterday morning the EPO and EUIPO then make an announcement. As readers are aware, EUIPO has had corruption spreading to it from EPO management. They co-produce marketing propaganda for law firms every year and the EPO posted this teaser early in the week: "Stay tuned: We will soon publish the results of a joint study with @EU_IPO on the impact of IPR-intensive industries on economic performance in the EU."

Then, at 5AM it published this; then again at 8AM: "New study shows the impact of IPR-intensive industries on GDP, employment & trade in Europe: http://bit.ly/IPRindustries19 Higher wages: +47% up to +72% 1 in 3 jobs 45% of the EU’s GDP 80% of the EU’s external trade..."

"EPO/EUIPO conflate "businesses use trademarks and patents" with "business succeed BECAUSE of trademarks and patents" (as usual, they do this annually)."A site called ResponseSource was ready as soon as 5AM with the EPO puff piece, so people can see it's not a news site but a PR collusion that said: "Industries that make an above average use of intellectual property rights (IPRs) such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs and copyright generate 45% of GDP (EUR 6.6 trillion) in the EU annually and account for 63 million jobs (29% of all jobs). In the UK, these IP rights-intensive industries account for more than 8.4 million jobs (28.1% of all UK jobs), and contribute more than EUR 1 trillion to the country’s GDP. These are among the findings of a joint report released today by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on the importance of IPRs for the EU economy between 2014 and 2016."

This was composed by the EPO itself. Compare to this press release (warning: epo.org link). It's identical.

EPO/EUIPO conflate "businesses use trademarks and patents" with "business succeed BECAUSE of trademarks and patents" (as usual, they do this annually). Moreover, the EPO keeps shooting down claims that it's detached from the EU when it co-produces 'studies' with EUIPO because EPO management wants to keep committing crimes without being held accountable by any European authorities. The above so-called 'study' is based on a lie and to work for EPO and EUIPO management you have to deliberately lie. That's why many at the top are lawyers (liars).

Recent Techrights' Posts

GNOME Foundation's Microsoft Developer Account
"Lately they're teaming up with Mozilla to eliminate middle click paste - something which I use continuously."
Links 10/01/2026: "Abolish ICE or GTFO", Calls to Ban X/Twitter From Apple/Google App Stores (or Implement National Blocks) Over MElon Turning It Into Non-consensual Deepfake Porn Site
Links for the day
EPO People Power - Part XXX - New Year Starts, Cocainegate Still Discussed a Lot, António Campinos Desperate for Distraction From It
Why the sudden change or 'generosity'? [...] Actual cocaine addicts caused nervous breakdowns among sober people
IBM and Microsoft Hiding Layoffs in Similar, Overlapping Ways
Performance Improvement Plans aplenty
IBM is a Cancer That Attaches Itself to Everything
Red Hat should have remained an independent company
 
Monday, January 12, Red Hat Layoffs Allegedly Planned
We'll update this post or follow up if or when we get more information
Slop Still Becoming Rare as Another Week Ends
Generally speaking, calm and quiet is desirable, it's what we hope for (an absence of slop, a lack of need to keep abreast of it, ultimately)
Links 10/01/2026: Iran Offline, Venezuelans Decry Civilian Casualties
Links for the day
GAFAM Wants War
Go war! Go bailouts! Go debt! Go Wall Street!
GNU/Linux and Chromebooks Rose to Almost 10% in Haiti
What's noteworthy is that this month GNU/Linux is measured at around 8% and ChromeOS at about 2%
2026 Might be the Year Microsoft Replaces Layoffs With Mass Firings (No Severance Payments to Dismissed Staff)
It's hard to "see" PIPs unless insiders blow the whistle
Links 10/01/2026: STV Layoffs (Scottish TV), “CBS Evening News” in Chaos (Culls and Censorship by the US Regime)
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Friday, January 09, 2026
IRC logs for Friday, January 09, 2026
Gemini Links 10/01/2026: Blackout, E-Waste, and Secondary Smartphone
Links for the day
Plot Twist: Microsoft MSN Relays Articles Hinting at or Pointing to Mass Layoffs Soon, Other Gossip
the narrative from Microsoft's "PR bunny" (Shaw) is showing mold already
Links 09/01/2026: Google and Character.AI Implicitly Accept Chatbots Kill Kids and GLP-1 ‘Slimming Pens’ Turn Out to be a Lot Worse Than Advertised
Links for the day
'Vibe Coding' is Not "AI", It's a Sewer, It is Junk
Linus Torvalds was wrong. 'Vibe coding' isn't good for anything.
GNU/Linux May be Approaching 10% "Market Share" in Montenegro
The surge started around 2021
At IBM, "Employee Reviews" (or Appraisals in the UK) Are a "Trojan Horse" for RAs (Mass Layoffs), a Waste of Time
comments from IBMer serve to suggest that appraisals can be precursors
Links 09/01/2026: Technical Blogging Lessons Learned and Google's Gmail Getting a Lot Worse
Links for the day
More IBM Layoffs in India
If IBM cannot afford to retain workers in India, then something is truly "out of control" at IBM
Escaping GAFAM Colonialism Requires Homegrown Free Software
GNU/Linux now measured at 3% in Zambia
Dr. Richard Stallman Has Done No Harm to the GNU Project or the FSF (He Had Benefited Both, Always, Even After the Attacks on Him Began)
Some people try to prevent Dr. Stallman from speaking or having a platform where many people can hear him
GNU/Linux at 4% in Saudi Arabia, Says statCounter
Some years ago Windows fell to a "market share" of just 11% there
Microsoft Isn't Denying the Mass Layoffs
Still silence from Microsoft
In Western Africa GNU/Linux Flirts With 5% Market Share
there's a gradual increase in GNU/Linux usage there
Gemini Links 09/01/2026: Pro1 X Repair and the Mercury Protocol
Links for the day
Links 09/01/2026: Cambodia and China Extradition, "NATO’s High-risk Patrols Near Ukraine"
Links for the day
No, Microsoft Did Not Deny the Q1 Mass Layoffs (Microsoft Can Delay These)
Maybe they disperse or delay the layoffs (changing plans), but the layoffs are going to happen
Only One Person in Charge of Fedora is Not IBM Staff
This is not a community project, it's just a way for IBM to onboard unpaid volunteers
This Is Not a Drill, GNU/Linux is Really Going 'Mainstream' on Laptops (and Desktops)
It is important to explain to people software freedom
IBM Albany Layoffs
not only did many in the site lose their job; there's more to come "and likely another one in February" (weeks from now)
EPO Workers' Industrial Action to Include Many Strikes, to Last Several Months
In some ways, The Hague and Bavaria are becoming almost indistinguishable from Moscow
EPO People Power - Part XXIX - Getting DER SPIEGEL, FAZ, Deutschlandfunk and Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) to Cover EPO Scandals
We kindly ask our readers to contact their local media and urge it to cover the scandals
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, January 08, 2026
IRC logs for Thursday, January 08, 2026
Gemini Links 08/01/2026: "New Year, Old Plans" and Alex's "Butlerian Jihad"
Links for the day
LLM Slop About "Linux" Scarce and of Very Low Quality
At this rate, we reckon there may be one (or zero) per day by year's end
IBM's "Forever Layoffs" (to Bypass Warnings or Notices as Required by WARN Act)
There is a bunch of speculations about when the next "major round" of RAs will be
Attempts to Undermine This Site's Latest Series Using Intimidation, Threats, and Presumptuous Accusations
threatening language is less effective when everyone is an alibi
Links 08/01/2026: "Golden Smartphone" Scam and Riseup Account Issues
Links for the day
Links 08/01/2026: Possible "Collapse of NATO Over Greenland"; Journalistic Malpractice and "US Voters Hate Slop"
Links for the day
EPO People Power - Part XXVIII - A Sensitive Issue for Germany and The Netherlands
If Germans who read this series can communicate this to public officials or to their media, maybe they can strike a nerve and get the ball rolling
Age Discrimination at IBM Discussed Amid Mass Layoffs (Especially in the United States)
Workers are anxious. Are they next to face the axe?
Gemini Links 08/01/2026: Potentiometer Calculator, Power Outages, Why You Should Abandon Discord for IRC (e.g. Ergo), and Formatting Gopher Posts
Links for the day
Links 08/01/2026: More Software Patents Squashed, White House Repeats Misinformation From the Kremlin
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, January 07, 2026
IRC logs for Wednesday, January 07, 2026