| Author (Person) | Chapman, Peter |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.8, No.41, 14.11.02, p25 |
| Publication Date | 14/11/2002 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 14/11/02 By BUSINESS leaders have accused member states of putting greed and narrow linguistic concerns ahead of jobs by failing to break the deadlock on a Europe-wide patent system. Under the fast-track, low-cost system heralded by EU leaders at the Lisbon summit in March 2000, inventors would be able to get EU-wide patent protection for their inventions once their application was accepted by just one Union-accredited patent office. But since then single market ministers have failed to agree on the fine print - angering EU businesses who complain that rivals in the US and Japan, where patent protection is cheaper and easier, are racing ahead in the innovation stakes. Thierry Sueur, patent expert for EU employers' group UNICE, told European Voice the Union was 'shooting a bullet in its own foot' if, as expected, EU competitiveness ministers fail to reach a deal at their meeting this week (14-15 November). He said EU firms might move their R & D to the US because of the difficulty in getting patent protection for their inventions in Europe. Sueur, a director of French industrial and health care gases giant Air Liquide, said national greed was a key reason why many member states were reluctant to approve a new system. 'Most national patent offices are significant cash machines for national states and they are afraid that a community patent would stop the flow of money. 'To make a comparison it is just as if the national banks had been retaining the power for the Europe instead of giving the power to the European Central Bank. The decision was made for the euro because it was common sense but apparently this is not understood for patents.' He said countries should also stop insisting that patent applications under the proposed system should be made in English, French and German as well as a local language. 'The reality is that today in the patent world, SMEs, individual inventors and big industry rely on English. This is not accepted by national states who insist on translations that nobody will read.' Until the EU settles the patent dispute, industry leaders say business and EU citizens will continue to count the cost. A recent report by the Swedish Confederation of Enterprise said the EU patent was the single most important factor to help Europe create a 'knowledge-based industry'. 'If the question of community patent is not solved in the near future there is a risk that this will continue to slow down the restructuring of the European economy,' it said. Business leaders have accused Member States of putting greed and narrow linguistic concerns ahead of jobs by failing to break the deadlock on a Europe-wide patent system. |
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