The World Intellectual Property Organization Deputy Director General responsible for copyright, Anne Leer, has decided to resign her post, citing personal reasons.
Leer’s position, DDG for Culture and Creative Industries Sector, is one of the top four cabinet officials named by WIPO Director General Francis Gurry after his re-election last year. She is the highest ranking official for copyright at WIPO, and has been in the position for less than a year.
“Anne Leer has decided to resign from her current role as Deputy Director General for personal reasons. Ms. Leer wishes to return to an operational role in the creative industries. She will continue to support WIPO’s work in the future,” a WIPO spokesperson stated today in response to a question by Intellectual Property Watch.
Leer is from Norway, which is not a member of the European Union. The EU currently has no official at the level of DDG, since Christian Wichard of Germany was not renewed last year.
According to her official CV at WIPO, Leer worked extensively at the BBC in London before coming to WIPO. Her continued association with WIPO suggests that she may not be at liberty to talk about the situation. IP-Watch has not yet attempted to contacted her.
The procedure for replacing a DDG falls under Article 9 of the WIPO Convention. DDGs are appointed by the DG after approval by the WIPO Coordination Committee, an 80+ member state executive body. Based on those procedures, it may be expected that Gurry will appoint a new DDG, who will have to be approved by the Coordination Committee.
No timeframe for replacement has yet been given. The WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) is scheduled to meet in two weeks, from 7-11 December.
Image Credits: Flickr – WIPO
There is a story here that leaves readers curious about the circumstance surrounding the departure of this key WIPO leader. Either we ignore this, in which case we declare the job and the events unimportant, or we care deeply, in which case we need to hear from both the departing deputy director and those with whom she worked. Bottom-line: If this is a non-event then so too is WIPO a non-player with regards to copyright.
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I am so glad she resigned for personal reasons. I would have really been disappointed if she had been forced out because she lied about having a dependant child, diplomas, and experience, …
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