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| Rly? |
If there ever was a
first world problem, then this is it. But whenever (okay, not every single time) I walk to the printer in our office and pick up a freshly printed European patent application or European patent, I read the line at the very bottom of the first page which reads “Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)”, and I think “no, it isn’t. It’s printed by my Cannon makeupsomenumber in Zurich, Switzerland. I wish I was in Paris”. Why does it say “Printed by Jouve” on every single European patent (application)?
Jouve is a group of companies headquartered in Paris providing, in their own words, “customers with cross-media solutions for designing, enriching, showcasing and distributing content”, whatever that means. Those services include on-demand printing and web-to-print services. I would assume that Jouve has some kind of contract with the European Patent Office. However, are they printing anything for the EPO, much less patents and patent applications?
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| Solving another first world problem (Fig. 1 from EP 3 047 756 B1) |
Since 1 April 2005, European patents and patent applications are published electronically, the printed publication was ceased on that day. Until 1 January 2014, it remained possible, on request, to be sent a (printed) copy of the patent specification together with the certificate for a European patent. As of 1 January 2014,
this option was also ceased, because it was hardly ever used. It remains possible to obtain certified copies of the certificate with the specification annexed upon request and payment of an administrative fee. I would assume these are printed on the printers on location at the EPO’s offices in Munich or The Hague, and not by Jouve.
So, I just cannot fathom what Jouve is printing in Paris. Yet, even on the most recent applications published – such as
EP 3 143 898 A2 “Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap” (112 pages, no less) – or granted patents such as
EP 3 047 756 B1 “Mobile beach basket” read “Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)” on the first page. If any reader has an answer to this riddle, please put it in the comments.
