Managing Intellectual Property

EPO presidency: who is and is not standing

23 June 2009

James Nurton and Emma Barraclough, London

The heads of the Danish, French, Swedish and Swiss IP offices are understood to be among the contenders to be the next EPO president

As representatives of the EPO's member states meet in Munich this week for the regular meeting of the Administrative Council, Managing IP contacted the leading contenders to ask them their intentions.

Roland Grossenbacher, head of the Swiss office and a former chair of the EPO Administrative Council, said: "I will become a candidate as soon as the vacancy notice has been published."

He added that it is important that a decision be taken by October and the appointment should be based on professional criteria such as "managerial experience, deep knowledge of patent systems, deep knowledge of EPO, language and communication skills".

"Any political arrangements might jeopardise a sound choice relying on professional qualification," he added.

Meanwhile, Benoît Battistelli, head of the French IP office, is understood to be seriously considering standing.

As the...



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