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BLOG@IP::JURPatent Attorney Axel H Horns' Blog on Intellectual Property Law.
Monday, August 01, 2005Report on the 102nd Meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation.Some interesting snippets from the Report on the 102nd meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (07 to 10 June 2005):"[...] On legal affairs, the Council heard an oral report about the 7th meeting of the Working Party on Litigation (held in Munich on the margin of its own meeting) and noted with interest that the European Commission had begun to consider the possibility of reviewing its position on a European Patent Court. [...]" "[...] On the EPO’s internal management, the Council noted with great interest the staff representatives’ suggestion that there should be a code of conduct for the EPO. [..]" "[...] On financial and budgetary matters, the Council held an initial exchange of views about the results of an external consultant’s study of the EPO’s financial situation, and agreed that in autumn 2005 it would conduct more detailed discussions which would make it possible to take appropriate decisions and in particular to curb the recent worrying decline in productivity. The 2006 budget and 2007-2010 financial plan should be drafted in the light of that necessity and of the Council’s recommendation that in future the Office should focus more on its core activities. [...]"The news on a possible change of the EU Commission's position concerning the litigation regime sounds promising. But, er, to what end do they need a code of conduct for EPO employees, now, some thirty years after starting EPO operations? And, what's meant with "the recent worrying decline in productivity"? Output of granted patents per week? Or patent searches per month?
In terms of the "reduction in productivity" I think the report of the EPO Finances Committee may shed some light on what that means (see epi Information 2/2005, page 52). "Examination capacity has increased by 12% from 2003... However, search production has increased by 4% during 2004 and is expected to do little better in 2005. Examination production in terms of final actions has declined by about 4% in 2004, but is expected to recover in 2005. With increased capacity, and decreased production, it appears that overall productivity has dropped... The workload seems to have mastered the EPO."  Post a Comment
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