Gurry to stand again as WIPO DG

The Australian, who was elected in 2008 for a six-year term, confirmed today that he will allow his name to be put forward again.

His current term expires on September 30 2014. He is the fourth WIPO Director General, and has worked at the Organisation since 1985.

According to a circular sent last Friday, each WIPO member state has until December 6 this year to put forward one national as a candidate.

It is not yet clear if there will be other contenders for the position or, if so, who they will be.

The Coordination Committee will meet on March 6 and 7 next year to nominate a candidate for appointment. The successful candidate will be formally appointed at sessions of the General Assembly and the Assemblies of the Paris and Berne Unions on May 8 and 9, and will take up the post from October 1 2014.

The principles for nominating a director general state that the nomination should “if possible, be made by consensus”. But they also acknowledge that “voting will probably be a necessary means of building consensus for the nomination of a candidate” and set out how votes should proceed.

The Director General is normally appointed for a six-year term.

Gurry will be interviewed as part of Managing IP’s special supplement marking 40 years of the European Patent Convention, which will be online at the end of September.