Heimen Mathol

Eulogy by Frank Barendregt (Netherlands Section)

Heimen Mathol, patent attorney, passed away on 23rd January 2002. His wife Liet, also known within FICPI, followed on 29th January 2002, the day after Heimen's cremation.

Heimen was entered in the Netherlands' Register of Patent Attorneys in 1954; his specialisation was mechanical engineering. He studied at the Technical University of Delft, a study which he started in the first years of the war and which he finished around 1948. During the war he was hospitalised for some time in the French part of Switzerland and his strong attraction to the French language came from that period.

After University he spent some years in the Netherlands Patent Office as examiner and many people from the IIB became his lifelong friends. Soon, however, he decided that this Patent Office career was not what he wanted and he switched to the private practice which was what he liked best.

Very soon he made himself known internationally and also in FICPI. He served FICPI many years and indeed, FICPI was part of his family. In particular he was of the opinion that FICPI should be a quality organisation and, as a member of the Admissions Commission for many years, he ensured that the requirements for membership remained high. This strictness caused the Commission in later years to be sometimes jokingly referred to as the "Non-Admission Commission".

He retired from his office Exter Polak & Charlouis in 1998. Thereafter he took up many voluntary jobs like working in the library of his club in The Hague, handing out toys to refugee children, pouring coffee in an elderly club in his neighbourhood and the like. In view of his great merits it was decided at the 1998 Florence Exco to appoint Heimen as Honorary Member of FICPI. This really meant something to him and he was very pleased with this great honour awarded by FICPI.

I visited Heimen and Liet regularly and although Heimen's short term memory had suffered, his long term memory was good. He enjoyed to hear about the office, about FICPI, about people in FICPI he still knew, and he was always very grateful when I passed on greetings from ExCo participants he still remembered. Now that he and his wife Liet passed away, true friends of FICPI have gone; FICPI was, in their experience, likewise their friend.

On a personal note: I am happy to have been able to work with him for so long; for me he was an example and I am certain that through this example I have inherited his pleasure in our wonderful profession. Also my involvement in FICPI was stimulated by him.

May Heimen and Liet rest in peace.

Frank Barendregt

Ole Plougmann

Eulogy by Raymond C. Stewart, (FICPI U.S. Section)

The Ole Plougmann Award

In memory of Ole Plougmann, the Danish Plasmid Foundation has decided to institute an award of DKK50,000 to a young scientist who has contributed significantly in one of the following areas of research:

• Biotechnological research, in particular, research based on molecular biology
• Commercial or other utilisation of academic research results within the field of biotechnology
• Collaboration between universities or other research institutions and private industry

As a patent attorney, Ole Plougmann, a member of FICPI, played an important role in the transition from research to commercial exploitation based on the patenting of biotechnological inventions. He was one of the leading figures involved in encouraging and pioneering Medicon Valley, with its many emerging companies. He fought for the rights of scientists because he believed in their ideas. One of his early contributions as an intellectual property consultant resulted in the establishment of The Plasmid Foundation.

"Medicon Valley" is a large region comprising both Danish and Swedish research institutions and pharmaceutical companies. The "Valley" is the Oeresund, the narrow body of water between Denmark and Sweden. A bridge connecting Copenhagen and Malmoe was constructed recently.

The Ole Plougmann Award will be presented at the Medicon Valley Bioconference to be held in Malmoe, Sweden, in October 2002.

Raymond Stewart

Chris Scott

Eulogy by John Orange (Canada)

It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing of Chris Scott on May 20th. Chris was the Vice President of the Training and Education Commission and instrumental in the establishment of the training courses for which FICPI has gained a world-wide reputation.

Chris was originally from South Shields, Yorkshire, England. He obtained an engineering degree from Durham University and after working for a while for English Electric became a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at what is now Sunderland University. He emigrated to Canada in 1966 as a new employee of the Canadian Patent Office. He taught himself the necessary skills of Patent Agency and passed the patent agent qualifying examination in 1972. He left the Patent Office to join private practice and later founded Hirons Rogers & Scott, which subsequently became Rogers & Scott.

His first experience of FICPI was at the Edinburgh World Congress, shortly after the establishment of FICPI Canada. He returned full of enthusiasm for the organisation.

At the FICPI World Congress in Cannes in 1988 Peter Kirby produced his seminal report and recommendations on the training of patent agents. With his teaching background training was close to Chris' heart, and he used the report and resolution from Cannes to set up and establish the McGill University Patent course, which is now the staple course in Canada for new entrants to the profession. Chris was the course director for a couple of years, and its success has been such that siblings in trademarks and copyright have now been established.

FICPI subsequently decided to establish a similar course in Asia and Chris was called upon to help. He did this willingly, working with David Carmichael in Australia to provide the material for the course. The result this time was SEAD, based in Singapore, which is now entering its sixth year. That course and the materials Chris provided now serves as the basis for similar courses at the University of Melbourne and in Europe for the EUROSEAD course. Those who watched Chris teach at these courses noted how he was able to simplify the whole esoteric process of patent preparation into a series of simple steps that gave the neophyte student hope and a clear path to follow in becoming a successful patent agent. As a result of these efforts and his dedication, one of Chris' legacies is a well qualified and recognised patent profession in Singapore and other countries. In recognition of that role Chris was the first recipient of the Peter Kirby Memorial award from FICPI Canada, established in memory of the person who had kindled Chris' enthusiasm 14 years before, to recognise outstanding contributions made by individuals to the patent profession in Canada.

Chris retired last year and as a major retirement project he undertook development of a patent course designed to be taught on an ongoing basis whenever and wherever sufficient students could be gathered together. It is a tragic loss to the profession both in Canada and abroad that Chris will not be with us to see this achieved.

Chris was the consummate FICPI member. He was widely acknowledged as a superior Patent Agent, his clients respected him and the advice he gave and he cared deeply about the profession and its future. At his funeral many spoke of the impact Chris had had on their lives outside the profession and it is clear that he applied the same dedication to his family's development and his passion for sailing as he did to patents. He leaves an extended family and our sympathies go to them.

The patent profession in Canada and throughout the World owes a great deal to Chris.

He will be missed but not forgotten.

John Orange