The role of intellectual property (IP) in the world we live in today – a digitized, interconnected world – is vastly different from the world in which the IP system has its roots.  The digitized, interconnected world creates vast benefits, but changes have come so fast that the legal infrastructure around IP struggles to keep up.  The role of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is to work with its Member States to ensure that the system does keep up, and stays relevant. 

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry will provide an overview of the evolution of intellectual property and how WIPO’s work program identifies policy responses to fast-shifting IP landscape.  The Director General will discuss, inter alia,  WIPO’s recent accomplishments, such as treaties on the rights of audio-visual performers (2012) and access to copyrighted material for the visually impaired (2013), and future activities, such as a proposed design law treaty and protection for traditional knowledge. 

Thursday, November 21st, 6:00 p.m.

The George Washington University Law School

Faculty Conference Center

5th Floor Burns Building

716 20th Street, NW

Washington, DC

Reception to Follow

The lecture will also be live webcast at: http://video.law.gwu.edu:8080/ess/echo/presentation/f8652ca5-4138-41f4-a280-33976f37af90