In its 124th session the Tribunal delivered a total of 80 judgments, of which only nine (!) concern the EPO. Of those only two cases were fully reasoned. Both concerned disciplinary sanctions. Six cases, of which 5 coming from the EPO, were summarily dismissed. This paper discusses the latest cases that illustrate the on-going changes in the jurisprudence the Tribunal. We also informs about changes in the composition of the Tribunal and the recent developments in the Appeals Committee.
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in August 2017 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
"Der neue Chef ist als Schlichter gefragt" (General-Anzeiger Bonn, 09-08-2017). Translations are available in English and French.
"Chef mit Sozialkompetenz gesucht" (Münchner Merkur, 03-08-2017).
"Sorry, psycho bosses, it's not OK to keylog your employees" (The Register, 02-08-2017).
"German court reveals reason for Europe-wide patent system freeze" (The Register, 22 August 2017).
Translation is available in French.
"Karlsruhe: Patentanwalt enthüllt Gründe für UPC-Verfassungsbeschwerde" (Juve.de, 18-08-2017).
"UPC – Finally some News from the German Federal Constitutional Court" (Kluwer Patent Blog, 16-08-2017). Translation is available in French.
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in July 2017 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
"Gesucht und gefunden? Das Europäische Patentamt bekommt einen neuen Präsidenten" (Legal-Patent, 31-07-2017).
"Chef mit Sozialkompetenz gesucht" (Stuttgarter-Zeitung.de, 31-07-2017). Translations are available in English and French.
"Den Chef nennen sie Putin" (wiwo.de, 31-07-2017). 4 pages! The .pdf paper version of the article published by Wirtschaftswoche is available here.
Translations are available in English and French.
"Europe's 'one patent court to rule them all' vision may be destroyed by EPO shenanigans" (The Register, 20-07-2017).
"Einheitliches Patentgericht: Unbekannter Kläger bremst Ratifizierung aus" (Legal-Patent, 13-07-2017). Translations are available in English and French.
"EPO Begins Process For New President, Administrative Council Head" (IP-Watch, 12-07-2017).
"Need a change? Well, the Euro Patent Office needs a new president..." (The Register, 06-07-2017).
"Search for successor of EPO president Benoît Battistelli has started" (Kluwer Patent Blog, 06-07-2017).
"Gewonde door val van nieuwbouw in Rijswijk" (AD.nl, 05-07-2017).
"Persoon maakt metershoge val bij nieuwbouw octrooibureau" (Omroepwest.nl, 05-07-2017).
Translations are available in English, German and French.
"The Battistelli era will soon be over at the EPO; perhaps the current EUIPO boss is being lined up to succeed him" (IAM, 04-07-2017).
"Europäisches Patentamt: Deutscher löst Dänen an Verwaltungsratsspitze" (Heise.de, 03-07-2017).
Question avec demande de réponse écrite E-002338/2017 à la Commission Européenne
European Patent Office (EPO) and social abuses
Question E-002338/2017 to the European Commission
Translations are available in English, German and Dutch.
______________________________________________
Answer by Ms Bieńkowska on behalf of the EU Commission E-002338/17 from 30 June 2017
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in June 2017 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
"EPO staff strike again" (WIPR, 30-06-2017).
"Europäisches Patentamt: Deutscher wird neuer Chef des Verwaltungsrats" (Juve.de, 29-06-2017).
"EPO Staff Calls General Strikes To Protest Presidential Reform Plans" (IP-Watch, 27-06-2017).
"Keine richterliche Unabhängigkeit beim Europäischen Patentamt?" (Legal Tribune Online, 16-06-2017). Translations are available in English and French.
"Verfassungsbeschwerde gegen den UPC: „Unziemliche Hektik ist nicht geboten“ " (Juve.de, 21-06-2017).
"Yet more reform efforts at the Euro Patent Office, and you'll never guess what..." (The Register, 17-06-2017).
"Breaking News: Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court pulls Emergency Break on UPC Agreement" (Kluwer Patent Blog, 13-06-2017).
"Patentwelt in Schockstarre: Unbekannter Kläger bremst UPC-Ratifizierung" (Juve.de, 13-06-2017).
"German court delays UPC ratification" (WIPR, 13-06-2017).
"Germany puts halt on European unitary patent" (The Register, 13-06-2017).
"Verfassungsbeschwerde bremst EU-Gemeinschaftspatent aus" (Heise.de, 13-06-2017).
"Germany delays common European redress for patent violations" (Reuters, 12-06-2017).
"EU-Patent wegen deutscher Verfassungsklage auf Eis" (Finanzen.net, 12-06-2017).
"Steinmeier wird Gesetz vorerst nicht unterzeichnen" (Handelsblatt.com, 12-06-2017).
"BVerfG stoppt EU-Patent" (Legal Tribune Online, 12-06-2017).
"Karlsruhe stoppt EU-Patentgericht" (F.A.Z., 12-06-2017).
"Europäisches Patentamt: Nachfolger für umstrittenen Chef Battistelli gesucht" (Heise.de, 06-06-2017).
Translations are available in English and French.
This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in May 2017 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:
"SUEPO takes case about strike to European Court of Human Rights" (USF, 10 May 2017).
"Patent office conflict heads to court of human rights" (EPSU, 10 May 2017).
"Europäisches Patentamt: Gewerkschaft zieht vor den Gerichtshof für Menschenrechte" (Heise.de, 10 May 2017).
"Trade union complains to ECHR over EPO immunity" (WIPR, 10 May 2017).
"European Patent Office dragged to human rights court – by its own staff" (The Register, 10 May 2017).
"SUEPO takes the Netherlands to human rights court over EPO tension" (IPPro Patents, 09 May 2017).
"EPO trade union files complaint against The Netherlands before European Court of Human Rights" (Kluwer Patent Blog, 09 May 2017).
"Aanklacht tegen Staat om problemen Octrooibureau" (De Telegraaf, 09 May 2017). Translations are available in English, German and French.
"Klacht tegen Nederland over onschendbaarheid octrooibureau" (FOK.nl, 09 May 2017).
"Klacht tegen Nederland over octrooibureau" (Nieuws.nl, 08 May 2017).
"Klacht tegen Nederland over octrooibureau" (Nederlands Dagblad, 08 May 2017). Translations are available in French and German.
"The Rule of Law, the EPO and the Ugly Writing on the Wall" (Kluwer Patent Blog, 25 May 2017).
"Euro Patent Office staff warns board of internal rule changes" ( The Register, 23 May 2017). Translations are available in German and French.
"‘Successor EPO president Benoît Battistelli to be chosen this autumn’" (Kluwer Patent Blog, 19 May 2017).
"Scheiden tut weh" (Report.at, 11 May 2017).
"WIPO Boss Seeks to Silence Press Critics and Whistleblowers" (GAP, 09 May 2017). See also WIPO: Criminal complaint against journalist.
"NOW UN TOO DECIDES MEDIA IS THE ENEMY: WIPO, FAO, in unprecedented move, waive immunity to sue journalists for defamation" (theelephant.info, 05 May 2017).
Summary
On 5 May 2017 the Tribunal held a symposium to mark its 90th anniversary. The program can be found at the Tribunal’s website[1]. As can be expected from such an event there was much praise for the Tribunal. While some of it is merited, not all of it is: the Tribunal is showing its age. It needs to catch up with the current legal and practical developments. The present paper explains the reasons.
Dear SUEPO Members, dear Colleagues
As you remember, to defend the interests of its members when attacked by President Battistelli, SUEPO sought protection from the Dutch courts in the form of an injunction. An injunction is meant to prevent a violation of rights likely (if not certain) to cause irreparable damage. Disappointingl y, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands upheld the EPO’s immunity.
A host state has a heavy duty of care. On the one hand, it must take reasonable steps to safeguard the immunity of an international organisation, when such immunity is necessary for the lawful operations of the organisation. On the other hand, the host state must see to it that all individuals within its jurisdiction have effective means to protect their rights when menaced.
When the legal system applicable to an international organisation does not provide for protection in the form of an injunction, which is essential to prevent irreparable damage, and even worse when it is virtually indisputable that the organisation is violating rights, the host state has a serious difficulty. In our opinion, it has only two options: either to lift the immunity of the organisation for the benefit of a party aggrieved, or to take itself action against the rogue organisation by resorting to international arbitration (in the EPO’s case, Article 23(1) PPI).
Being unwilling to do either, in our opinion The Netherlands have failed (so far) to discharge their duty of care, thereby allowing a breach of fundamental rights on their soil and de facto condoning, if not endorsing, the EPO’s abuses.
Therefore, on 8 May 2017 SUEPO has filed a complaint against The Netherlands before the European Court of Human Rights.
As usual, we will keep you informed of any essential development.
Your SUEPO central
In its 123rd session the Tribunal delivered a total of 97 judgments, of which 33[1] cases involving the EPO. Of the EPO cases, only 3 cases were partially won[2] by the complainants. Of the remaining cases 13 were summarily dismissed. In the 123rd session the Tribunal again stressed that it will only judge on “individual” decisions, thereby confirming its unwillingness to exercise normative control. Its tendency to send cases back to the EPO further contributes to the backlog at the EPO and at the Tribunal.
[1] The high number of Judgments dealt with in this session made it impossible to report on all cases and forced us to ignore some cases that would have merited a discussion.
[2] Only cases that were won on the substance are considered as won. Cases that only led to an award of costs and damages for procedural delays are considered lost. Note that whereas many cases are fully (even summarily) dismissed, the few cases that were won are only partially won. The present paper discusses selected cases and the overall implications.
Press Release - STAFF UNIONS VEOB AND SUEPO TAKE CASE ABOUT STRIKE TO ECHR.
Amsterdam 8 May 2017 – Today, two staff unions at the European Patent Agency, VEOB and SUEPO, filed a complaint against the Netherlands with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) for violation of article 6 ECHR in combination with articles 10, 11 and 13 of the Convention.
The unions are represented by lawyer Prof. Liesbeth Zegveld.