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Bureau Central
28.04.2015
su15180cp 0.2.1/2.2/0.3.2/5.3
In 2015 the national offices expect to receive some 425 million Euro in renewal fees on patents granted by
the EPO. They also benefit of cooperation projects worth an estimated 25 million Euro. These sums do not
take account of renewal fees that are not duly reimbursed to the EPO and of travel costs, daily allowance
and free dental and urgent medical treatment for delegates.
Cui bono?
The present developments raise a lot of questions that Mr Battistelli does not answer. Mr Battistelli talks
about safeguarding the future of the EPO but he has never explained either to staff or to the public
what that future will look like. Another question is: who will actually benefit from the increased efficiency
of the EPO? The EPO accounts for 2013 showed an overall budget surplus of 317m euro. The results
for 2014 are even higher 364 m euro. 2015 should be again better: for this year a more than
incremental increase in efficiency is expected from the examining staff. Mr Battistelli seems to imply that
with increased efficiency, patent fees could be lowered, but he has failed to do so thus far. Another key
question is: How many patents does the European economy need? Or maybe more precisely: how
many patents can it tolerate? Two-thirds of the applications filed at the EPO are not of European origin
and thus are more likely to hinder European industry than benefit it. A flood of badly examined patents
could affect in particular the small and medium-sized enterprises that cannot afford expensive litigation.
So the question remains: Mr Battistelli, what is the plan?
SUEPO Central
I am convinced that the way the EPO is managed today (by the Administrative Council) is such
that it will mean either the death of the EPO or its transformation into a cash machine.
EPO: Interviews for the Future (February 2006)
Thierry Sueur and Jacques Combeau
Intellectual Property Department, Air Liquide