15/03/2015

Pierre-Yves Le Borgn', "Office Européen des Brevets : à quand la sortie de crise ?"

Pierre-Yves Le Borgn', member of the French Parliament, has published an article (printable version) on the "deleterious social climate" and the "governance crisis" at the EPO.

In his view, the judgment of the Dutch Court of Appeal "would merit, at the very least, with regard both to its expectations and its consequences, a debate between the Member States within the Administrative Council" but Mr Battistelli has already "announced to the staff that theorganisation would not be submitting to the ruling by the Court". "When one has lost immunity from jurisdiction, it is futile to invoke despairingly immunity from enforcement."

Pierre-Yves Le Borgn' also makes a series of proposals to emerge from the cricis. These include an independent social audit, a conference of the ministers every two years (none took place since 2000), and that the exercise of the Chairing of the Administrative Council becomes incompatible with candidature for the Presidency of the EPO.

Translations in English, German and Dutch are available by scrolling through the document.