25 September 2015
Today I am being Regal and Statesmanlike for a visiting delegation of Korean attorneys. Apparently it is important that our visitors meet the President herself, even if the President herself is covered in straw. I excel myself. I smile graciously and shake hands and nod my head and collect business cards, and I am careful to read the business cards before slipping them into my pockets with the straw. Every now and then, I make little speeches thanking everyone for being so lovely. I accept some beautiful Korean gifts and nod some more and I have my photo taken holding the gifts and smiling from ear to ear. Mr Lampert tweets the pictures. In return, we give the Korean visitors a CIPA pen each. The CIPA pens are a little old and the ink has dried out inside them. This may not be classy, but it is at least fully compliant with the Bribery Act 2010. We also give the Koreans breakfast pastries, mid-morning biscuits, a thumping good buffet lunch and some evening drinks and canapés. In between the eating and the present opening, we tell them about IP in Europe, and they tell us about IP in Korea, which is getting more like IP in Europe all the time, except more efficient. Tomorrow they are going to visit the French patent attorneys. And after that, the German patent attorneys. So I am glad they have CIPA pens to remind them who is best in Europe. There are quite a few women in the Korean delegation. They are worried about what we have done with the women in CIPA. To be honest, so am I. But the diversity task force (da-da-da-DA!!) will sort that out.
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