A Special Day: WIPO’s Vision Gets A Little Fuzzy

In a surprise and fully uncorroborated development, it appears that World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry has been named a new contributor to an illustrious IP blog. The announcement came at the same time as news that WIPO will likely embark on wishing for publication of an annual crackdown list of global IP blogs deemed to be inadequately living up to the highest levels of intellectual property protection and decorum.

Gurry, a staid member of the global IP elite, will begin a new life as GurryKat on the worthy and inimitable IP Kat blog based in London. The news, posted by highly reliable IP Kat Jeremy Phillips, of WIPO’s foray into intellectual property rights blogging comes at a critical time when it has become increasingly difficult to discern lawyer spin, and rants from industry lobbyists and consumer advocates, from true, independent – and financially unsustainable – journalism in coverage of these issues.

The move is sending chills through an IP community hungry for guidance and unbiased leadership that takes into account all stakeholders equally, and not just based on economic influence, sources said.

This important news was first reported on a fount of insight, the estimable and sage Excess Copyright blog of Canadian lawyer Howard Knopf, itself apparently headed for the new WIPO list.

“No gimmicks, no ruse, just a big tent under which all stakeholders can find a place out of the rain,” said one WIPO insider without a name, in reaction to the news. “This will certainly lead to the need for explanations.”

In other reports, there had been rumours of consideration outside WIPO to host an International Day of IP Forgiveness on this special day for western culture, inspired by the recent Earth Hour and the International Day of Peace. Details were sketchy at press time and afterward, but appeared to involve the possibility of Gurry wearing love beads, leading a hand-holding session in the WIPO lobby gathering parties from all sides of the ever-fractious IP debates over issues such as anyone downloading online content and poor people getting enough medicine.

[To our readers: Happy April Fool’s Day!]