Sharon Bowles, UK ALDE Member of the European Parliament, runs a weblog. Here she reports her participation in the Berlin Patent Conference organised by the German presidency and the Association of German Industry. Selected key stakeholders of the patent industry met in Berlin, all critics were excluded. The Latin Group of member states was given no voice by the German Presidency which strongly pushed for EPLA.
It was little surprise that the organisers invited Sharon Bowles among all the MEPs concerned with patent policy.
9.00 Off to the Patent Conference. I am a panellist for the final session, but before that we have speeches from Industry and the President of the European Patent Office. The panel session goes well. I get the feeling that I am the most in tune with those attending.
Patent attorney Sharon Bowles is very clear that she serves the interests of the patent industry. No wonder she was in tune with those attending.
Several of the patent attorneys, and Nicholas Pumfrey, come to me afterwards and say that I had done well and made things very clear. I am gratified for I can think of nothing worse than my former colleagues thinking I was doing a bad job!
