EPLAW PATENT BLOG

EPO – Willy Minnoye and Raimund Lutz appointed as Vice-Presidents

Posted: October 29th, 2010

In its meeting of October 26 to 28 2010, the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation has appointed Belgian Willy Minnoye and German Raimund Lutz as Vice-Presidents of the EPO with effect from January 1, 2011.

Mr. Minnoye will succeed Mr. Hammer (DE) as Vice-President of Directorate General 1 – General Operations, which is responsible for examination and opposition. Mr. Minnoye is one of the rare internal appointments at this level and is currently Principal Director in the field of electricity and semiconductor technology as well as site manager of the EPO’s office in Berlin.

Mr. Lutz will succeed Mr. van der Eijk (NL, acting VP in 2010) as Vice-President Directorate General 5 – Legal/International Affairs. At present, Mr. Lutz is head of the German delegation in the Administrative Council and President of the Federal Patent Court in Munich (Bundespatentgericht). Legal affairs and the EPO’s relation to its users will be key responsibilities within the near future, since the “raising the bar” initiative has created many practical and legal problems which the new management under President Battistelli has to tackle.

Read the Communique of the EPO here

Reported by: Rudolf Teschemacher

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