Latest decisions on personal matters of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation
At its last meeting held in Munich between 4 and 6 March 2008, the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (the Council) decided on important personal matters. Two of the vacant positions were filled by Hungarian candidates: Dr. Miklós Bendzsel, president of the Hungarian Patent Office (HPO), was elected member of the Selection Committee (SC) and Dr. Mihály Ficsor, vice-president of the HPO received his second three-year mandate as chairman of the Committee on Patent Law (CPL). Both decisions were unanimous, with no abstentions.
The setting up of the SC became necessary as two of the vice-presidents, the one entrusted with general administration and the one dealing with international and legal affairs, would finish their career at the European Patent Office (EPOff.) next year. The SC supports the Council in the selection of the best-suited candidates. The main task of the SC is to filter and pre-select the candidates to be presented to the Council. The SC consists of six members. Three of them are ex-officio members of the SC, such as the president and the vice-president of the Council and the president of the EPOff. The other three members are elected ad hoc by the Council. According to the decision of the Council, the elected members for both selection procedures are: Dr. Miklós Bendzsel (HU), Raimund Lutz (DE) and Jesper Kongstadt (DK).
The Council also decided on the position of the chairman of the CPL. The CPL was set up by the Council earlier in order to prepare the decisions thereof in legal, regulatory and institutional matters. Important matters as questions related to the Community patent, the independence of the Boards of Appeal, the international harmonisation of substantive patent law and amendments to the Implementing Regulations or the Rules Relating to Fees appear on the agenda of the CPL. Dr. Mihály Ficsor has been acting as chairman of the CPL since 8 June 2005. His new term begins on 8 June 2008 and expires on 7 June 2011.