Johannes Bob van Benthem

Dr. European Patent Office, [http://www.epo.org/focus/news/2007/20071008.html "Former EPO President honoured with a street name"] , press release, October 10, 2007. ] Johannes Bob van Benthem (1921 - September 11 2006, The Hague, Netherlands European Patent Office, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/news/pressrel/2006_09_13_e.htm "European Patent Office in mourning for Johannes Bob van Benthem"] , press release, September 13, 2006. ] ) was a Dutch lawyer. He was the first president of the European Patent Office, from November 1, 1977 to April 30, 1985.

He obtained a Doctorate in Dutch Law from the University of Amsterdam in 1946. [ [http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponet.nsf/0/0D7AE42595154C75C12572D8003A5B67/$File/Interview_VanBenthem.pdf "Interview for the future: Dr. Johannes Bob van Benthem"] , no date, source: European Patent Office. ] then, prior to working at the European Patent Office, he worked for the Netherlands Patent Office ("Octrooiraad"), first as a lawyer starting in 1946, then later on as President of the Netherlands Patent Office from 1968 to 1977.

"He was awarded honorary doctorates by the law faculties of Munich and Strasbourg Universities."

From the beginning of December 2007, a street near the buildings of the European Patent Office in Rijswijk, near The Hague, Netherlands, will be named after him. More particularly, "the stretch of "Koopmansstraat" between "Tinbergenstraat" and "Limpergstraat" will be known as "Van Benthemlaan".

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External links

* [http://www.suepo.org/public/docs/2001/vanben_en.htm Romuald Singer Memorial Lecture] held by Johannes Bob van Benthem at the Patent Forum 1992 in Munich, Germany