!010794 News from the British Patent Office Here's some news on the British Patent Office, which seems to be being tossed around politically. This account is based on some news items from New Scientist magazine, from the fall. ==== For some time, the British government has been giving the BPO more autonomy, in 1990 turning the BPO into an executive agency (as opposed to being a part of another agency) with more control over its budget. To save money, BPO moved offices to South Wales, where there are 900 employees in facilities in Newport, Gwent (100 employees are still at offices in London). Of the 900 employees, 250 are examiners. This summer, a study was commissioned to examine the possibility of privatizing some or all of the BPO. This proposal met with opposition from two groups, BPO employees and the Chartered Insitute of Patent Agents (CIPA). CIPA opposed the idea of privatization, concerned that this would put judicial decisions in the hands of a commercial business, and disqualify British inventors and industry from the protection of international legal agreements. CIPA also was upset with the possible closing of the London facilities, much more convenient to use than the facilities in South Wales. BPO staff, through their unions, opposed the idea because of investments made by the British government in new BPO facilities, the fact that BPO operations are efficient, and the loss of jobs. They also cited the fact that some patent activities involve security and military patents, which shouldn't be in private hands. In November representatives of the employee unions met with MPs to lobby for their support in stopping the privatization of the BPO, and received support from some of the MPs. The decision is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Ministry. The preparation for privatization caused one problem with reporting on BPO statistics. As part of its role as an executive agency, it is required to report on BPO patent application statistics on a different schedule from that of foreign patent offices with which it exchanges information. [New Scientist 9/25/93, 20; 10/30/93, 21; 11/27/93; 21] In an EC matter, the United Kingdom is replacing the 1938 Trade Marks Act, and implementing a European Directive (89/104), allowing the UK to sign a treaty called the Madrid Protocol. The Madrid Treaty allows companies to save on legal fees by filing a single trademark application to cover many different countries. This will allow UK companies to more flexible trademark marks, including the sahpes, packaging and possibly even sound, color or smell of their products or services. Registration of geographical names will be allowed. It will be easier to prevent goods marked with counterfeit trademarks from being sold. [New Scientist 12/25/93, 17] Greg Aharonian Internet Patent News Service