An interview with WIPO Director General Francis Gurry

• Pages: 2-4

Where have you seen most progress in the

Organization’s work over the past 12 months?

Among the many ongoing initiatives, I would

highlight the progress in putting technical infra-

structure in place to allow developing countries

to participate more fully in the knowledge econ-

omy. Our focus is on practical areas, such as build-

ing, and expanding access to, technology data-

bases, and the modernization of national IP

offices. There are now modernization programs

underway in 60 countries.

Development issues permeate the whole

Organization’s work. Good progress has been

made, with some 17 projects underway, towards

the fulfillment of the 45 Development Agenda

recommendations.

In the normative area, our member states

achieved a breakthrough last year on traditional

knowledge and folklore, and have kept up the

momentum in the IGC1; there is also progress on

the issue of access by visually impaired persons to

published works; and the SCT2has agreed to ad-

vance work on design law and to discuss issues

surrounding trademarks on the Internet, such as

the use of keywords and sponsored links.

Internally, the initiatives we are implementing

within the Strategic Realignment Program (SRP)

are bringing about changes in our organizational

culture, systems and structures, which will better

equip us to meet the challenges in the changing

external environment.

Which areas have proven most difficult and why?

In all international organizations norm-making is

generally the most difficult area in which to

achieve multilateral agreement. The asymmetry

of information and resources around the world

means we have to move at a pace that is com-

fortable for everyone in order to build the neces-

sary understanding and confidence.

The Strategic Realignment Program highlights

four core values. How do these play out in the

Organization’s work?

The four values reflect our aspiration to be a

service-oriented organization, with staff who

work together with pride and integrity to deliver

results for our member states.

The value

Working as One

is well illustrated by the

implementation of the Development Agenda. In

order to mainstream development in the

Organization’s work successfully, the whole

Secretariat needs to be involved. Project man-

agers in relevant substantive areas across the

Organization are collaborating, with the

Development Agenda Coordination Division as

the focal point, to implement the Agenda recom-

mendations. The Organization needs increasingly

to adopt this type of collaborative approach to be

able to deliver on its complex agenda.

The value

Service Orientation

applies to all the dif-

ferent sorts of services provided by the

Secretariat to member states and other stake-

holders – from capacity-building and legislative

advice to our Global IP systems. Dedicated cus-

tomer service teams are being set up across the

Organization to realize this value fully.

The third value,

Accountability for Results

, is in-

tended to direct greater focus on the outcomes

that member states want WIPO to achieve. The

Medium Term Strategic Plan, which outlines

high-level outcomes for the next six years, is an

AN INTERVIEW

with WIPO Director General Francis Gurry

1 IGC – Intergovernmental

Committee on

Intellectual Property

and Genetic Resources,

Traditional Knowledge

and Folklore

2 SCT – Standing

Committee on the Law

of Trademarks,

Industrial Designs and

Geographical

Indications

OCTOBER 2010

2

Ahead of this year’s meeting of WIPO Assemblies,

WIPO Magazine

sat down with Director General

Francis Gurry to explore his views on a range of frontline IP issues.

Photo: Cathy Jewell