We are moving on with adoption of new forms of communication. I hope that we will soon regularly feature video clips on the LESI web site. They might look like the following clip of the Inventor of the Year Award Ceremony 2008 organised by the European Patent Office. LES members are interested in business activities, such as licensing and technology transfer, which involve intellectual property rights. We shouldn't forget therefore that we depend on the activities of inventors and other creative people who generate the intellectual property, as well as on effective and fair legal systems which provide the rights.

I am pleased to see that the LESI web site is keeping up to date with society news. You will see a link on the home page to the Pan European meeting in Copenhagen in May. The Pan European meeting has become a regular event on the LES calendar. It takes place every year - except when the International meeting is in Europe. The meeting this year is organized by LES Scandinavia, with the cooperation of the other European societies, but members elsewhere in the world are welcomed. The Pan European meetings are always good value, great sources of information and networking opportunities, and good fun.

I have sent a letter to all National Presidents referring to the following points:
LES International Membership Directory
We now have a great searchable directory on the LES International Website. I would ask all National Presidents to please ensure that Society information is kept up to date using the processes established by Stephanie Silverstein, our Administrative Manager.
Possible inclusion of Les Nouvelles on a major legal database
This is a great opportunity for LESI, but we need to ensure that we don't unduly dilute the benefits of membership. We need to have conditions - such as a delay between distribution to members and appearance on the database. I would like to have members views on this. Pharmaceutical Sector Enquiry and Horizontal Cooporation Agreements (European Commission)
The European Committee has submitted a response to the Commission. Difficult and contoversial issues are involved, and LESI cannot adopt a one-sided approach. I think the Committee has provided well-balanced comments which focus on the integrity of the intellectual property system.
Enlarged Board of Appeal, European Patent Office: Patentability of Computer Programs
The LESI IT& eCommerce Committee, together with the European Committee, is working on an amicus brief.