LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
An Update of FICPI's Recent Activities

In this edition, there is a full report on the meeting of the Executive Committee (ExCo) in GOODWOOD PARK, England. It was a truly successful meeting with many important decisions made. Of particular importance to FICPI was the decision that there is no requirement for the admission of individual members that they be partners of their firm, although this is a factor in assessing the standing in the profession of the applicant. FICPI is very fortunate to have an Admissions Commission that devotes a great deal of time in assessing candidates for admission ensuring that our high standard is maintained.

The ExCo approved the modest 5% increase in membership fees proposed by our Treasurer, Pierre-François Héritier.

I reported on the formation of a new Membership Committee comprised by the Bureau and Presidents of the Contact and Admissions Commissions and a Public Relations and Marketing Committee chaired by President of Honour, John Orange and comprised the Membership Committee members and Presidents of the Financial Advisory Board (FAB), the Meetings and Programmes Committee (MAP) and the Publications Commission.

There were four workshops following which the ExCo passed resolutions, given in full later in this edition on the topics of:

• TRIPS implementation in relation to pharmaceuticals
• Prior art effect of a prior application
• The principles of PCT Reform
• European Patent Translation

The ExCo was addressed by Alison Brimelow, Chief Executive of the UK Patent Office who gave us her forthright comments on current issues.

I was pleased to host a luncheon for representatives of the All-China Patent Attorneys Association, Ms Li, Acting President and Dr Chen, Vice President.

With a great deal of sadness, the ExCo acknowledged recently deceased members, President of Honour André Braun Sr, Member of Honour Valentin Balass and Emeritus Member Karl Flocks and acknowledged the contributions they made to FICPI during their working life.

FICPI is grateful for the very hard work of the UK Association in arranging this ExCo which not only completed some very important work but offered a very enjoyable and high class social programme. The members and firms who hosted a dinner for ExCo delegates on one evening are thanked sincerely.

I have just returned from the Rome FORUM. It was a great success with a record attendance. Reports on the programme also appear in this edition of FICPI Information. I am sure all able to attend gained a great deal from the working programme and our thanks go to the moderators, speakers and organisers of that working programme, Andrew Parkes (trademarks), Julian Crump (patents), for the designs symposium and roundtable, Robert Mitchell and Joe Kolasch, and overall co-ordinator, John Orange. The overall management was in the capable hands of Michele Mannucci (who will need to make a big mess of some future Forum if he is to be relieved from this task) and to the Conference Organisers, Enic Srl.

The next Forum to be combined with an ExCo will be held in Prague on 9 to 12 October 2002. I suggest you mark this in your diary now as many were disappointed at missing the excellent Forum in Rome.

I thank all members for the support given by attending fora. They are very important for the Federation.

Immediately prior to the Forum, I attended a meeting hosted by the JPAA to which many national organisations and others were invited to discuss the role of IP professionals in IP litigation and attorney-client privilege of IP professionals. Our conference organisers were responsible for the arrangements and handled these at their customary very high standard.

The Bureau also held discussions with the senior officers of AIPPI to consider matters of mutual interest.

Subsequently FICPI and AIPLA jointly hosted a Colloquium on the pendency problem. FICPI initiated this meeting because it felt it was desirable to air the views of all concerned with this problem. We were honoured to be addressed by a number of very important persons in IP including:

• Congressman Coble of the USA
• Mr Nicholas P Godici, Acting Director of the USPTO
• Dr Kober, President of the EPO

The leaders of the important IP organisations and Heads of the major Patent Offices attended and contributed to the debate. A short report is featured on the cover of this edition.

It was also useful to have private discussions with the leaders in IP. FICPI is pleased that it has been able to initiate such a meeting and it is hoped that changes to the system involving backlogs will now be made with a much better understanding of the issues and the wishes of the IP community at large. We sincerely thank our co-sponsors, AIPLA, for without their expertise and assistance we would not have met with the success that we did with this initiative.

Planning for the World Congress in Berlin 2003 is well underway and at the Goodwood Park ExCo, the Bureau Elargi considered possible themes for the working programme. Some excellent ideas emerged from the meeting.

I am also pleased to note the continuing success of our training programmes. In Rome, we held discussions with JPAA regarding possible cooperation.

I represented FICPI at the recent Council Meeting of APAA in Thailand. We discussed the proposed joint symposium to take place in Newport Beach, California from 15 to 17 March 2002.

The Bureau has accepted invitations for official visits to Japan and Beijing in April 2002.

As you can see, it is a very busy and productive time.

Finally, I convey to all members of the FICPI family the warm greetings of the Bureau and of Maggie and myself for a most enjoyable festive season and a prosperous New Year. We will think of you all as we head for the beach.