[A2k] Managing IP: The process for appointing a new WIPO director-general is underway

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

http://www.managingip.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=3D1852796&LS=3DEMS157502


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WEEKLY NEWS - JANUARY 11, 2008 Race to succeed Idris underway

11 Jan 2008

The process for appointing a new WIPO director-general is underway

In less than six months=92 time, a new head of the Organization will be
chosen by member states to replace Kamil Idris, who is stepping down
from the post a year early. Member states and IP owners will hope that
the new leader will restore confidence and credibility in the
Organization.

Yesterday the Brazilian government said it will be nominating Jos=E9
Gra=E7a-Aranha, the director of WIPO=92s International Registrations
Department, as its candidate for the post.

At the moment, he is the only confirmed contender. Member states have
until 5pm on February 13 to nominate other candidates for the position.

Gra=E7a-Aranha confirmed the nomination to MIP Week and expressed his
satisfaction at this news. He joined the Organization in 1993 where he
worked in the Development Cooperation and External Relations Bureau
for Latin America and the Caribbean. In May 1998 he was transferred to
the International Registrations Department.

A year later, he left WIPO because of his appointment as the president
of the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) in Brazil but
returned to WIPO in January 2004.

Although no shortlist has been prepared, speculation has already
focused on a number of other figures who may emerge as candidates.

One of these is Beno=EEt Battistelli, the director-general of the
National Institute for Industrial Property in France.

When MIP Week asked him whether he is considering standing, he said:
=93It's a very complicated and difficult situation at WIPO right now. I
think the Organization needs somebody who can help the different
parties work together, especially developing and developed countries.=94

"I know that my name is one of those talked about [as a potential
candidate] but I haven't yet made up my mind ... Let's see what
happens in the next few weeks,=94 he added.

Some observers believe Jorge Amigo Casta=F1eda, director-general of the
Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, will be a frontrunner.

When contacted, he didn=92t rule out or rule in his name. Instead he
said that once the Mexican government presents its official candidacy,
he will let people know.

Enrique Manalo, ambassador of the Philippines to the UN and a former
chair of the WIPO General Assembly, is also being touted as among the
favourites.

Besides these names, other likely candidates could include Francis
Gurry, WIPO deputy director-general; Alain Pompidou, former president
of the EPO; and Roland Grossenbacher of the Swiss Federal Institute of
Intellectual Property.

The process of appointing a new director-general was set out in a
letter sent by Hilda Skorpen, the chair of the Coordination Committee,
to member states and WIPO employees in November last year.

Each member state can propose the name of one of its nationals as a
candidate for nomination by the WIPO Coordination Committee.

Once all the nominations have been received, member states will be
notified of the names. The Coordination Committee will then be
convened on May 13 and 14 for an extraordinary session and by the end
of it Idris=92s successor will be appointed. He/she will officially take
over at this year's General Assembly at the end of September.

Skorpen=92s letter went on to say that a consensus would be preferred
for the decision but recognized that voting by secret ballot may be
necessary.

This election is being followed with much interest and observers view
it as a new start for WIPO, which has come under criticism from a
number of member states over the past few years.

However, most organizations that represent IP owners believe that it
is too early for them to endorse a candidate publicly.

In December, the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) put an
advertisement in the French-language Geneva newspapers Tribune de
Geneve and Le Temps urging member states =93to act promptly and with
extreme care=94 to find a new director-general.

Herb Wamsley, executive director of IPO, explained the idea behind the
advert. =93We wanted to help publicize this as we want someone with
significant and relevant experience, and who is sympathetic to IP
issues and believes in effective and adequate protection of IP,=94 he
said.

The advert stressed that "the new director-general should have a
record of success in responsible positions in the field of
intellectual property, the political and management skills necessary
to lead this critical international organization, and the confidence
and respect of the international community=94.

Michael Kirk, executive director of the American Intellectual Property
Law Association (AIPLA) said that the Association is still in the
middle of =93considering this question, but to date have not reached a
decision=94.

Jane Collins, chair of MARQUES, also expressed =93extreme interest=94 in
the nomination and said that the organization=92s members would =93prefer
someone who had experience in IP and understands IP issues rather than
diplomats or ambassadors=94.

=93Often a lot of these appointments are based on political appointment
instead of finding someone who would be good for the job,=94 she said,
but added that she hopes that this time around it will be different.

The February 2008 issue Managing IP, available online on February 1,
will carry an interview with Beno=EEt Battistelli.


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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997