2021 Spring Conferment of Decoration: Dr. Francis Gurry, Former DG of WIPO (29 April 2021)

 
　On 29 April 2021 (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2021 Spring Imperial Decorations. Dr. Francis Gurry, the former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is among this year’s foreign recipients. In acknowledgement of Dr. Gurry’s contributions to strengthening the partnership between Japan and WIPO in the field of intellectual property, he will be conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
 
　Dr. Gurry served as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) from October 2008 to September 2020. During his tenure, he made it easier to obtain and utilize intellectual property rights in Japan by continuously improving international intellectual property systems. He also contributed to raising public awareness of protection of intellectual property through public lectures on the importance of intellectual property. In addition, he promoted the provision of assistance to developing countries in cooperation with Japan in the field of intellectual property.
 
・Decoration: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun
・Service: Contributed to strengthening the partnership between Japan and WIPO in the field of intellectual property
・Name: Dr. Francis Gurry
・Title: Former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization
・Nationality: Australia