PATENTS : ALL-ENGLISH PATENTS SEEN LOOMING.

Speaking in Brussels on 20 December, President of the European Patent Office Alain Pompidou made a further call for European states to move forward with a workable solution for patents. Pompidou, who is set to hand over as EPO president on 1 July 2007 to Alison Brimelow from the UK, also gave a clear warning to France. The country must finally ratify the London Protocol, which reduces translation obligations, so as to prevent an all-English solution.

"If France does not ratify the London Protocol, then ten states, currently negotiating, may move on to an all English-solution. This will receive support by the Portuguese Presidency," warned Pompidou. "Other states will take into account French presidential elections and will wait for 2008. There will be strong pressure to convene a diplomatic conference on the London Protocol," continued Pompidou, who is "absolutely crystal clear" that other states, if France does not move forward, will adopt an all-English solution.

Under the London agreement, concluded in London on 17 October 2000, signatory states undertake to waive, entirely or largely, the requirement for translations of European patents to be filed in their national language...