EPO demo to support suspended board of appeal member

European Patent Office (EPO) workers are holding another demonstration today (December 10) to support a suspended board of appeal member, as a five-week strike enters its half-way point.

Staff will gather at the office’s Munich headquarters at midday and protest about growing discontent between some workers and senior management, as well as other staff suspensions.

The protest will coincide with the latest meeting of the Administrative Council (AC), the office’s supervisory body.

Yesterday (December 9) it was reported that internal members of the Enlarged Board of Appeal had sent a letter to the AC ahead of the meeting complaining about the recent suspension of a board of appeal member.

The letter called on the AC to recognise that, despite board of appeal members not being above disciplinary proceedings, EPO president Benoît Battistelli does not have the authority to suspend a member.

The letter also noted that the computer belonging to the board member had been confiscated, raising fears that office staff might have access to confidential information about continuing cases.

It also called for “a clear limitation on the executive power” of the EPO.

Previously, WIPR reported that two members of the office’s internal appeals committee (IAC), which deals with internal staff disputes, in Munich and The Hague, have also been suspended.

Just as they have been on various days over the last three weeks, staff will be striking today, as well as Thursday and Friday. There will be strikes every day next week.

Last week, WIPR reported that on December 2 nearly 2,000 people attended demonstrations in support of the IAC workers.

On December 3 around 907 workers walked out and the next day the number fell to 774, according to staff at the office.

The latest protest will also coincide with Human Rights Day, a UN-run event to promote the acceptance of human rights.

The EPO did not respond to a request for comment.