PERSONAL
IP INCLUSIVE • OBITUARY
any change in culture, so as to avoid building barriers, to seek their support in challenging biased comments and behaviour, and to allow them to also take advantage of those changes in culture as they occur. After the panel part of the event finished everyone gathered for drinks and nibbles, to catch up with acquaintances and to make new ones, whilst enjoying CMS’ hospitality. The next Women in IP panel discussion will be held on 22 November 2018 at Gowling WLG, with the topic still to be confirmed, but despite that I am sure that many of this year’s attendees will already be planning to attend. Emma Longland (Fellow)
The Women in IP network speakers offered a wealth of experience
Paul Richard Hartnack 1942–2017 Paul Hartnack, former Chief Executive and Comptroller General of the Intellectual Property Office, has died aged 74. Mr Hartnack, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, began his career as a civil servant in 1959 when he joined the Board of Trade as a 17-yearold clerical officer. In the 1960s, he moved to the National Audit Office, where he gained promotion and worked on international relations, dealing specifically with South America. In 1969, he was seconded to work on the Committee of Inquiry into Civil Aviation (Edwards Committee) Report. He then spent three years working in Paris, before returning to the UK in 1972. By the late 1980s, Mr Hartnack had become Comptroller General of the IPO, then called the Patent Board. Mr Hartnack made a lasting contribution to both the IPO and intellectual property more broadly. He was responsible for moving the IPO to Wales in 1991 after it had outgrown its London offices and establishing it as a semi-independent agency. On an international level, he
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was the co-creator, with Japanese Commissioner Arai, of the Patent Prosecution Highway concept. Ron Marchant, a former colleague of Mr Hartnack’s, who himself went on to become IPO Chief Executive, said: “The Patent Prosecution Highway has made a major change to the global patent system. I had the privilege of helping to introduce this, in my second job for Paul. I owe him much and it was a challenge and pleasure to work with him in innovating the IP system.” Mr Hartnack retired in 1999 and was awarded the Order of the Bath in recognition of his lifetime of work for the government. His widow, Marion, said: “Paul loved his job and was very proud of how he was moving things along in the Patent Office. He thrived on the work. He had the unenviable job of moving the Patent Office to Wales, which was very difficult in terms of
persuading people to uproot and relocate.” Paul Richard Hartnack was born on 17 November 1942 and died 21 November 2017. A funeral was held in Hitchin on 27 November. He is survived by his widow, two sons and three grandchildren. Neil Lampert
www.cipa.org.uk
06/12/2017 16:45:41