2024-12-10 00:00:00 SUEPO, a union in the patent world. SUEPO stands for Staff Union of the European Patent Office (EPO). The EPO has sites in Berlin, Munich, The Hague and Vienna. Likewise SUEPO is made up of four local sections at the four sites. Approximately 50% of the staff of the respective sites are members. Because SUEPO effectively has four working languages (English, French, German and Dutch in The Hague) it also has French (Union Syndicale de l'Office Européen des Brevets - USOEB) and German (Internationale Gewerkschaft im Europäischen Patentamt - IGEPA) names. All employees of the EPO are free to become members of SUEPO, since the fundamental right of "freedom of association" is guaranteed by the EPO-Codex for every employee.