Related: COVID-19 Crisis: When EPO Outsources Everything to a Surveillance System of Microsoft and the NSA

Summary: False 'choice' (between surveillance platforms) is all that the EPO can offer; but the illegality persists

THERE'S a saying (or several similar statements) in the Free software community about the offering of 'choices' that are both bad, perhaps even equally bad, e.g. "Mac" or "PC" (Windows). Freedom-respecting operating systems such as BSD and GNU/Linux aren't even being considered; it boils down to brands.

"Pepsi or Coke?"

"Can I just have water please?"

"Tea or coffee?"

"Can I have water please? Thank you! Wait, water isn't even an option???"

"Has the management of the EPO 'normalised' something that is not legal?"It's a real shame that today's EPO requires malicious proprietary binary blobs to get access to hearings about patents etc. To make matters worse, those malicious proprietary binary blobs come from another continent, which does the world's most extensive spying (by far).

A few days ago a large law firm released a few publications (marketing) regarding patents on nature and software patents, which are not legal. It then added and promoted another one about "EPO Oral Proceedings by videoconference" (which EPO staff insists are illegal).

Has the management of the EPO 'normalised' something that is not legal? To the point where nobody mentions the illegality anymore?

Oh, wait. The EPO has a 'solution'... to the wrong problem (or one nobody complained about).

Instead of stopping the illegal practice the EPO now adds another brand. In its very own words (warning: epo.org link), it's "[t]esting Zoom as a second platform for oral proceedings in opposition" (which does nothing to make the practice any less illegal):

From 14 September 2020, as a development of the pilot project for oral proceedings in opposition by videoconference (VICO), the EPO will test the Zoom platform for the first time for oral proceedings involving multiple opponents and/or requiring simultaneous interpretation. This technical development will allow more cases to be concluded and thereby contribute to greater legal certainty; it also follows suggestions from user associations.

[...]

The EPO remains committed to providing easy access to transparent, fair and efficient proceedings in a low-cost, safe, effective and environmentally-friendly manner. We aim to conclude pending opposition cases within the shortest possible time. The introduction of Zoom as an additional platform to Skype for Business provides users with more options for concluding their opposition hearings rather than postponing them. We are confident that VICO can become the format of choice for patentees, opponents and patent professionals in the future

Oh, wow. So the vegetarian society now gets more choice. Beef will no longer be the sole option; coming soon: chicken! To use another example, go ahead and offer the organic foods society either GM rice or GM wheat. ⬆

“Any scientist who tells you they know that GMOs are safe and not to worry about it, is either ignorant of the history of science or is deliberately lying. Nobody knows what the long-term effect will be.”

--Geneticist, David Suzuki, giving the 2008 Commonwealth Lecture in London