Friday 4 May 2012

French survey invites responses

The attention of this blogger has been drawn to a survey which may be of both interest and future significance to readers of this weblog.

In short, a number of French bodies and associations whose logos appear on this website have come together to support the project of the European Union and its Member States to create a unitary patent and a specialized jurisdiction which can give judgment in litigation relating to this patent and the European patent. Those bodies and associations represent
-Companies using these instruments via the MEDEF, the AFEP, the CGPME and their intellectual property specialists (ASPI)
-Lawyers who specialize in intellectual property (AAPI)
-Patent attorneys in private practice (CNCPI et ACPI)
-Intellectual property associations : the French group of AIPPI, LES France, the APEB, the AACEPI, the AFPPI.
The rubric goes on to explain:
In agreement with the INPI (« Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle », the French Patent Office) and with the support of all the magistrates specialising in intellectual property in Paris (Tribunal de Première Instance, Cour d’Appel et Cour de Cassation), they support the choice of Paris for the seat of the Central Division.

Setting aside political considerations which may enter into this choice, we think it is important to allow those working in the profession to set out their wishes for the organization and working of this jurisdiction.

For this reason, the enclosed questionnaire has been drawn up by people working in the profession for others working in the profession and is intended to allow us to draw the attention of the competent European authorities to the needs which need to be met.

We should be grateful if you could reply to the questionnaire so that we can all prepare the future, without delay.
PatLit readers who are responsible members of the European patent litigation community are invited to participate in the survey, which you can access via the link above or click directly here.

2 comments:

MaxDrei said...

Interesting. I commend the survey to readers. You can remain anonymous. If you like, you can vote to start proceedings at 9am and finish at 7pm. Or you could opt for a court that starts at 2pm and finishes at 4pm. Or something in between. The deepest and most taxing question, however, might be about how many people should the courtroom accommodate. I recall that, at the EPO, depending on the case, you need a room for one solitary patent attorney rep, or one for many tens of reps, and more than a hundred folks, all up.

Anonymous said...

But the survey has closed already, and without warning! Not democratic or impressive. My voice for starters has not been heard.