1 March 2017

Carl Josefsson has commenced his role as the new President of the EPO Boards of Appeal (BoA).

The new position of BoA President has been introduced as one of the main pillars of a package of measures aimed at increasing the efficiency of the Boards’ and enhancing the perception of their independence. Under powers delegated by the President of the EPO, the BoA President will assume the entire management of the BoA Unit, in both its administrative and judicial aspects, and be answerable directly and solely to the Administrative Council.

In his welcoming remarks, President Battistelli said: “Mr Josefsson’s arrival in the post of President of the Boards of Appeal is of great importance. From the very outset, the reform has aimed to ensure the Boards reinforce their role as a judiciary body and can effectively serve users of a balanced and efficient patent system. We are confident that Mr Josefsson, who has a great deal of experience in judicial and international affairs, will help to ensure the reform delivers the benefits that it was designed to achieve.”

Previous to his position as the new BoA President, Mr Josefsson served as Senior Judge of Appeal at the Svea Court of Appeal in Stockholm. He added “I am very happy to take up my new role. I will do my very best to bear the responsibilities and – together with all my new colleagues – fulfil the implementation of the reform of the Boards of Appeal.”

President Battistelli takes also this opportunity to thank Mr Gunnar Eliasson for having assumed the responsibilities of former VP3 during the interim period between end of November 2016 and today.

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