On 11 May 2006, the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices held a public hearing on the London Protocol concerning European patents. Presided over by Mr. Henri Revol, Senator and President of the OPECST, and Mr. Claude Birraux, Deputy and First Vice President of the OPECST, this hearing allowed various important French figures to publicly present their analyses of the consequences of a French ratification of the London Protocol and to debate the industrial, technological, linguistic and diplomatic stakes of the agreement. Although it only lasted for half a day, this hearing nevertheless gathered together most of the interested parties and respected the diversity of opinion expressed on this subject: the European Patent Office; those public authorities responsible for the dossier when France signed the London Protocol in 2001; the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences; an industrial group; a young, innovative company; a research organization; consultants in patent rights; a translator specialized in patents; and the National Institute of Patent Rights. The Office also called upon a noted scientist to discuss the possibilities offered by the new language technologies, as well as several members of Parliament not members of the OPECST. The published report of the hearing provides all members of Parliament, as well as any interested party, with the information necessary to understand the controversy surrounding the possible ratification of the London Protocol and to forge an opinion on this issue.