Dr. Francis Gurry, currently a Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has been nominated to become the next Director General of the organisation. Dr Gurry has over 20 years experience working for WIPO, working in all major area of the organisation. More information relating to the nomination of Dr. Gurry can be found in this government media release.
Dr. Gurry’s nomination will be submitted to the General Assembely of WIPO for confirmation in September/October of this year.

WIPO is the United Nations organisation that presides over international matters pertaining to Patents, Trademarks, Designs and other areas of Intellectual Property. WIPO manages filings made under the Patent Co-Operation Treaty and The Madrid Protocol for Trademarks.

In the Federal Court case of World of Technologies (Aust) Pty Ltd v Tempo (Aust) Pty Ltd 2007 FCA 114 it has held that a threat of infringement made by the Applicant against the Respondent was unjustified. In this case, the World of Technologies was the holder of an Australian Design Registration for a bagless vacuum cleaner. World of Technologies’ solicitors issued a letter of demand alleging infringement by Tempo of the Design Registration. At the time of sending the letter of demand the Design Registration had not as yet been certified.

In the recent Federal Court decision of University of Western Australia v Gray 2008 FCA 498 it was held by Justice French that an invention developed by an employee academic researcher was not the property of the University. The employment contract of Dr Gray described his job duty description to be that of undertaking research and organising such research with University staff and students. The Court also acknowledged that Dr Gray’s position with the University also encompassed a teaching role.