JUDGMENT OF THE DUTCH COURT OF CASSATION IN SUEPO v EPO ISSUED ON 20 JANUARY 2017
Dutch courts have no jurisdiction in European Patent Organisation dispute
The European Patent Organisation can invoke jurisdiction immunity in a dispute with trade unions. That is the ruling issued by the Supreme Court 5 today, and means the Dutch courts have no jurisdiction to examine disputes brought before them between the European Patent Organisation (EPOrg) and two trade unions: the Trade Union of the European Patent Office (VEOB) and the Staff Union of the European Patent Office (SUEPO). Previous rulings by the court in preliminary relief proceedings and the Court of Appeal in The Hague 10 have been set aside by the Supreme Court.

Original judgment text is in Dutch. English translation is available.

 

We are disappointed to inform you that the Supreme Court of the Netherlands has decided to uphold the EPO’s immunity in the case brought by SUEPO to complain about infringement of fundamental rights.

Presentation of Prof. Zegveld at the Council of Europe on 13 December 2016 on Jurisdictional Immunity Of International Organisations And Rights Of Their Staff

The use and abuse of immunity by international organisations is apparently a topic not limited to the EPO - although we may have the dubious honour of holding the worst record so far.
On 13 December 2016, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe tackled the issue in agenda point 9.
SUEPO’s attorney, Prof. Zegveld, was one of the people invited to make a presentation.
We hope that the debate will trigger a (re-)confirmation of the boundaries of immunity, and lead to a strengthening of the enforcement of staff rights.

This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in December 2016 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:

• "IAM blog's top 20 most-read stories of 2016 " (IAM Magazine, 22 December 2016). EPO info can be found at reference points 9, 11, 15 and 16.

• "Wir haben ein Auge darauf" (Tageblatt.lu, 28 December 2016).
  Translations are available in English and French

• "European Patent Office supremo rapped on knuckles by nation reps" (The Register, 19 December 2016).

• "Europäisches Patentamt: Präsident der Beschwerdekammern steht fest" (JUVE, 15 December 2016).

• "Arbetsmiljöproblem skakar patentverk" (Ingenjoren.se, 15 December 2016).

• "EPO staff hold demo; European staff unions express support" (WIPR, 15 December 2016).

• "Euro Patent Office staff plead for third time to get rid of Battistelli" (The Register, 15 December 2016).

• "Guess King Battistelli's plan to fix the Euro Patent Office. Yep, give himself more power" (The Register, 08 December 2016).

• "Battistelli asks to nominate EPO appeals committee members" (WIPR, 07 December 2016).

• "UN agency sets aside two EPO decisions, criticises Administrative Council" (WIPR, 05 December 2016).

• "Euro Patent Office prez 'a disgrace to France'" (The Register, 03 December 2016).

• "ILO Decisions Said To Confirm EPO Staff Lack Fair Legal System" (IP-Watch, 01 December 2016).
  Translation is available in French.

• "Arbeidsrecht Van Dam: conflict octrooibureau in Rijswijk blijft aanhouden" (NRC, 01 December 2016).
  Translations are available in English, German and French.

Solidarity message from CERN Staff Association.
 

Support to our colleagues at the European Patent Office (EPO) English Version
Message of support from the ILO Staff Union.

Soutien à nos collègues de l’Office Européen des Brevets (OEB) French Version

IPSO expresses support for colleagues at the European Patent Office, with Heardquarter in Munich

ECB Union - IPSO - issues a support message to SUEPO and EPO staff.

IPSO is a staff union, founded by staff of the European Central Bank (ECB) to represent the professional interests of persons working for the ECB and other international institutions and agencies in Germany.

The Administrative Council of the EPO will meet on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 December in Munich. Topics of discussion are likely to include the controversial removal of the EPO Boards of Appeal to Haar and the Office's reaction to Judgment No. 3785 of the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organisation.

SUEPO Munich organises a demonstration on Wednesday 14 December in front of the Isar building, starting at 12h30.

Our claims remain:

• A return to Rule of Law
• Freedom of association and freedom of speech
• GOOD FAITH negotiation of reforms, and:
• Hands off our staff representation !

This document provides a non-exhaustive list of some articles, blog posts or videos published in November 2016 (sorted in reverse chronological order, not necessarily by relevance). Latest additions are highlighted in yellow:

• “Staatssecretaris Van Dam pleit voor verdere hervorming octrooibureau” (NU.nl, 30 November 2016).
  Translations are available in English and French.

• “Van Dam: hervormingen octrooibureau doorzetten” (Noordhollands Dagblad, 30 November 2016).
  Translations are available in English and French.

• “Ma question au gouvernement sur la situation sociale à l’Office européen des brevets” (Philip Cordery, 30 November 2016). Translations are available in English and German.

• “Van Dam: sociale situatie Europees Octrooibureau moet beter” (NOS - NPO, 30 November 2016). Translations are available in English, German and French.

• “Dégradation du climat social au sein de l’Office européen des brevets” (Richard Yung - PS -, 28 November 2016). Translations are available in English and German.

• “A loose screw at the European Patent Office!” (CERN, 28 November 2016). Translation is available in French.

• “Der Streit eskaliert und 38 Länder schauen zu” (Tageblatt.lu, 25 November 2016).

• “Prunier responds to EPO claims” (WIPR, 25 November 2016).

• “EPO staff hold demo for dismissed workers” (WIPR, 24 November 2016).

• “Honderden werknemers Europees Octrooibureau in actie tegen 'tirannie' directeur” (Omroep West, 24 November 2016). Translations are available in English and French.

• “Europäescht Patentamt: Muss Lëtzebuerg seng Positioun iwwerdenken?” (LSAP, 23 November 2016). Translations are available in English and French.

• “Werknemers Europees Octrooibureau voeren actie tegen 'tirannie' directeur” (Omroep West, 23 November 2016). Translations are available in English, German and French.

• “Euro Patent office staff call again for King Battistelli regicide” (The Register, 23 November 2016).

• “Fallout from Euro Patent Office meltdown reaches Dutch parliament” (The Register, 22 November 2016).

• “Debate in Dutch Parliament about deteriorating social climate at European Patent Office” (Kluwer Patent Blog, 19 November 2016).

• “Zorgen over ’terreur’ Octrooibureau”(De Telegraaf, 18 November 2016).

• “Time for a Haar-cut - please do not relocate the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office” (IPKat, 18 November 2016).

• “Remember the House Ban? How two years flies past”  (IPKat, 17 November 2016).

• “Sacked EPO staff union official responds to Battistelli's IAM letter” (IAM Blog, 17 November 2016).

• “Billet d’humeur : le président de l’OEB a de nouveau frappé!” (Blog Claudine Lepage, 8 November 2016). Translations are available in English and German.

• “Europäisches Patentamt feuert weiteren Gewerkschaftler” (Heise.de Online, 8 November 2016). Translations are available in English and French.

• “Firings will continue until morale improves - Merpel revisits the EPO” (IPKAT, 7 November 2016). Translation is available in French.

• “EPO users and staff need the Administrative Council to get a grip on current events” (IAM, 7 November 2016).

• “Union Calls “Flash Demo” After EPO Fires Another Union Representative” (IP-Watch, 7 November 2016).

• “The Rule of Law (Rechtsstaat) is Endangered and Needs to be Defended!” (Kluwer Patent Blog, 7 November 2016), especially section 4 of the article dealing with the EPO.

• “Fresh Euro Patent Office drama: King Battistelli fires union boss” - EPO president ignores his own admin council (The Register, 4 November 2016). Translation is available in French.