The 61st Series of WIPO Assemblies Opened in Geneva
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General Francis Gurry opened the WIPO Assemblies on Monday, outlining the Organization's progress during his 12 years as Director-General.
Mr. Gurry, Australian national, highlighted that during these years the financial situation of the Organization has flourished, with consistent surpluses enabling the Organization to be debt-free while building its net assets, now some CHF 364 million, beyond the target-level set by the Member States. At the same time, fees under the global IP systems have remained constant.
"So we are in the position in which the logic of technological development is pitted against the movement of policy geopolitically. There are many risks associated with the collision of these two currents, ranging from the separation of peoples from governments to the disruption of economic and social life. In view of the global nature of both currents, there seems to be only one way in which the two currents may be guided into a peaceful confluence. That way is through international cooperation that is global in nature or, in other words, multilateralism," said Mr. Gurry.
"We are all aware that the appetite or the capacity for such multilateral action is regrettably diminished at the moment. The reconstruction of this appetite or capacity, with the inevitable changes in architecture that it may entail, is one of the major challenges that confronts the world in the coming years and decades," stated Mr. Gurry.
Mr. Gurry welcomed to the Assemblies meetings Daren Tang, a Singaporean national, who officially assumes his duties as WIPO Director General on October 1, 2020. "I wish him every success in his tenure, which I am sure will be an outstanding one that leads the Organization forward in every way," Mr. Gurry said.
In his turn, Director General Elect Daren Tang said he wished to place on record his “high admiration” for the “stellar results” achieved by Mr. Gurry during his tenure as Director-General.
“It is thanks to your leadership, and to the dedication of my future WIPO colleagues, that this Organization is deeply respected and highly valued. The future is full of promise, thanks to the foundations you have laid, and I look forward to continuing your outstanding work as WIPO enters a new chapter. I am confident that everyone will join me in sending to you our warmest, deepest, and best wishes for your many endeavors to come,” Mr. Tang said at the opening of the Assemblies.
In a far-reaching speech, Mr. Gurry outlined the positive changes in the Organization during his 12 years as Director-General.
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Gennadiy Gatilov, thanked Francis Gurry for "a significant contribution to the expansion of the treaty framework for cooperation, the evolution of international registration systems and the diversification of the WIPO-provided services".
Speaking at the meeting on behalf of the Group of Central Asian, Caucasus and Eastern European Countries (CACEEC), the head of the Russian diplomatic mission voiced the expectations Director-General "will continue to develop WIPO as a leading platform for international inclusive and transparent dialogue, multilateral partnership, and will also contribute to the positive and unifying agenda".
Background Information:
WIPO deals with policy issues, enhances cooperation, provides services and data in the field of intellectual property. It is a self-financed UN agency with 193 Member States. The Russian delegation to the 61st series of WIPO Assemblies, which will last until September 25, is headed by the head of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property Grigory Ivliev.
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