05/06/2019
On 23 May 2019, the Federation of International Civil Service Associations (FICSA) wrote a letter to Campinos expressing concern about the continuing irregularities in the treatment of EPO staff.
20190523 FICSA letter to EPO Campinos
(pdf)
published 24/05/2019
ex19027cpd
(pdf)
published 03/06/2019
ex19027cpf
(pdf)
published 03/06/2019
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in May 2019 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
(Kluwer Patent Blog published on 24-05-2019). "Union calls for strike at the EPO, first time since president António Campinos took office". Translations are available in German and French.
(IPPro Magazine, published on 23-05-2019 - Author Barney Dixon). "SUEPO calls for strike after ‘disappointing’ Campinos meeting". Translations are available in German and French.
(IPPro Magazine published on 21-05-2019 - Author Barney Dixon). "SUEPO meets with EPO president for MoU discussion". Translations are available in German and French.
(Kluwer Patent Blog published on 16-05-2019 - Author Thorsten Bausch / Hoffmann Eitle). "Es gibt nichts Gutes. Außer man tut es. Both within and outside the EPO".
(Kluwer Patent Blog published on 07-05-2019 - Author Thorsten Bausch / Hoffmann Eitle). "Germany: Why Does So Much Take So Long?".
(IPPro Magazine published on 02-05-2019 - Author Barney Dixon & Ben Wodecki). "EPO Boards of Appeal ‘well on track to reach backlog target’, claims report". Translations are available in German and French.
(World Health Organization WHO published on 28-05-2019). "Burn-out an "occupational phenomenon": International Classification of Diseases".
(Les voix du monde published on 28-05-2019 - Author Caroline Paré). "Risques psychosociaux".
(The Guardian published on 22-05-2019 - Author Mark Sweney). "BT targeting older staff in job cuts, says union".
(Mediapart.fr published on 21-05-2019 - Author Dan Israel). "Quand France Télécom se débarrassait des «fruits trop mûrs ou pourris»".
(Challenges.fr published on 20-05-2019 - Author Anne Tezenas). "Burn-out: "il y a un gros problème de management à la française", selon Patrick Légeron".
(Mediapart.fr published on 17-05-2019 - Author Martine Orange). "Au procès, les ex-dirigeants de France Télécom jouent sur les mots".
(European Social Partner's statement published on 08-05-2019). "Statement on the Rule of Law". PDF version available here.
(Mediapart.fr published on 11-05-2019 - Author Rachida El Azzouzi). "Procès des suicides à France Télécom: une direction sourde et sans remords".
(Heise Online published on 08-05-2019 - Author Thomas Pany). "France Télécom: Die Angestellten wissen lassen, dass sie Nullen sind".
(France Inter published on 06-05-2019 - Author Ouafia Kheniche). "“On banalise les actes suicidaires en entreprise” selon un expert, témoin au procès France Télécom".
(L'humanité published on 06-05-2019 - Author Cécile Rousseau). "Danièle Linhart « Un cadre m’a dit : “Je suis là pour faire oublier les valeurs de service public” »".
EOB: USF once again warns EPO director on worrying results of internal survey
With a letter dated 26 November 2018 and a reminder dated 29 January 2019, USF drew Mr Campinos’ attention to the negative perception of the abusive – and for several of them still unresolved – disciplinary cases against staff or union representatives at the EPO and the personal suffering the situation still entails. In the meantime, a survey has been run at the EPO which seems to reveal/shows very worrying results calling for an analysis to be run jointly by the EPO President and the EPO staff representation / SUEPO.
Letter from USF Pres. to Mr Campinos Dir. of EOB 29 April 2019. Translations are available in German and French.
Lien vers le site français de l'USF:
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in April 2019 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
(Kluwer Patent Blog published on 26-04-2019). "Can two wrongs make a right at the EPO?". We recommend you to read the comment section, but in particular the 4th comment on EPO immunity & real estate.
(Kluwer Patent Blog published on 20-04-2019). “EPO publishes draft Strategic Plan 2023 and holds a new consultation”. Translations are available in German and French.
(JUVE Patent published on 10-04-2019 - Author: Christina Schulze). “Aiming for peace at the EPO”. Translations are available in German and French.
(Kluwer Patent Blog published on 07-04-2019). “EPO staff survey: concerns about quality, low confidence in management, lack of respect”. Translations are available in German and French.
(Kluwer Kluwer Blog published on 05-04-2019). “Patentability of plants: EPO referral of decision T1063/18 criticized”.
(IPPro Magazine published on 04-04-2019 - Author: Barney Dixon). “Little has changed in terms of EPO social dialogue, CSC reps say”. Translations are available in German and French.
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in March 2019 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
(Author: Barney Dixon – IPPro Magazine published on 26-03-2019). "EPO president: Good intentions yet to translate into positive results". Translations are available in German and French.
(Author Heike Anger - Handelsblatt published on 21-03-2019). "Kurioser Streit ums Europäische Patentamt entbrannt" (Article behind paywall) - Link to .pdf (password protected). Translations are available in English and French (password protected).
(Author: Barney Dixon – IPPro Magazine published on 20-03-2019). “EPO CQI pilot scheme improved patent quality, claims president”. Translations are available in German and French.
(Author: Tobias Kaufmann - Bardehle Pagenberg published on 19-03-2019). "BARDEHLE PAGENBERG's Contribution to the Public Consultation: EPO Strategic Plan 2023" and EPO Strategic Plan 2023 - Public Consultation (warning: epo.org link).
(Author: Thorsten Bausch - Hoffmann Eitle published on 11-03-2019). How flexible should the EPO be in the timing of the examination process?
(Author: Mathieu Klos - JUVE Patent published on 07-03-2019). "Battistelli’s difficult legacy". Translations are available in German and French.
(Author: Thorsten Bausch - Hoffmann Eitle published on 01-03-2019). "The Haar in the Soup".
(USF – Luxembourg, published on 29-03-2019) Brexit: Factsheets and Questions and Answers
(EPSU General Circular N°5 - published 27-03-2019) March for a Fairer Europe for Workers, 26 April 2019, Brussels
(DELTAPATENTS, published on 26-03-2019) T 0403/18 - Ad hoc move of oral proceedings from Haar to Munich.
(Author: - published on 04-03-2019 by Arstechnica.com). "Theranos: How a broken patent system sustained its decade-long deception".
(Author: Monica Torres. Updated EN version published on 29-01-2019 and FR version published on 01-03-2019. Cet article, publié sur le HuffPost américain, a été traduit par Maëlle Gouret pour Fast ForWord). EN - "This Is What Happens to Your Body When You Hate Your Job" | FR -"Voici ce que subit le corps quand on exerce un emploi que l'on déteste".
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in February 2019 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
(24-02-2019), "One more thing on Teff: Patent Quality".
(20-02-2019), "Battistelli warns that complex filings could cause problems for the IP system".
(Author: Sophie Crocoll, 28-02-2019), "Das Patentamt wird zur Innovationsbremse".
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in January 2019 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
(30-01-2019), “EPO aims to ‘enhance staff engagement’ with 2019-2023 strategic plan”. Translations are available in German and French.
(27-01-2019), "EPO: consultation on Strategic Plan 2023, social tensions remain". Translations are available in German and French.
(21-01-2019), “Clearing the cobwebs” – Translations are available in German and French.
(22-01-2019), "EPO staff should not be treated as ‘second-class European civil servants’, says CSC". Translations are available in German and French.
(07-01-2019), "European Patent Office dominates list of most read articles in 2018". Translations are available in German and French.
Discussions at the Council of Europe: the staff of international organisations need means for redress against their administrations.
Jurisdictional immunity of international organisations and the rights of their staff
Translations are available in German and French.
08 January 2019
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As a quick reminder, this discussion was largely triggered by the situation at EPO at the time Prof. Liesbeth Zegveld representing SUEPO was heard by the Council of Europe on the question considering the worrying social developments which impacted (and still impact) the EPO.
L’union Syndicale Fédérale a parfaitement conscience des difficultés sérieuses crées à l’OEB dans de nombreux domaines d’activité par votre prédécesseur …
USF – Bernd Loescher – Lettre Mr Campinos OEB. Read more, here.
Translation of the letter to Mr Campinos OEB is available in English and German.
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in November 2018 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
“Adminstrative Council urged to help end ‘persistent atmosphere of intimidation’ at the EPO“ (Kluwer Patent Blog, 23-11-2018). Translations are available in German and French.
“SUEPO urges EPO to drop actions against beleaguered staff reps“ (IPPro Patents, 23-11-2018). Translations are available in German and French.
"‘Urgent action’ needed on EPO disciplinary cases at ILOAT" (IPPRo Patents, 19-11-2018).
"EPO partially ends staff rep email ban" (IPPro Patents, 13-11-2018). Translations are available in German and French.
"EPO president Campinos and law firms start ‘constructive dialogue’ about patent quality" (Kluwer Patent Blog, 13-11-2018). Translations are available in German and French.
"EPO president meets with ILO and ILOAT leaders" (IPPro Patents, 06-11-2018). Translations are available in German and French.