About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

WIPO Director General Wraps up Official Visit to Japan

March 22, 2017

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry concluded an official visit to Tokyo on February 2, 2017. During the visit, he held meetings with high-level officials, gave speeches, took part in a media interview, and visited a company that has been using WIPO services extensively.

Throughout the visit, the Director General had meetings with high-level officials from the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), the Japan Patent Office (JPO), and Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), and discussed both global intellectual property issues, as well as how to better protect and utilize data.

Visit to industry

Gurry paid a visit to Asahi Glass Company (AGC), a Japanese global glass manufacturing company that has been filing around 300 PCT applications every year.

WIPO’s Director General is introduced to technology employed by Asahi Glass Company (AGC)
WIPO’s Director General (left) is introduced to technology employed by Asahi Glass Company (AGC). (Photo:WIPO)

Speeches

Together with Assistant Director General Yo Takagi, the Director General gave speeches at the JIPA Symposium and the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech). The theme for this year’s Symposium was “Drastic Business Innovation! The 4th Industrial Revolution and Intellectual Property-Let’s Think about the New Business and IP in the IoT, Big Data, and AI Era”.

Director General speech at the JIPA Symposium
WIPO’s Director General gave a speech on how new technology influences the IP system at the JIPA Symposium. (Photo:WIPO)

At the end of the official visit, Gurry stopped by the WIPO Japan Office (WJO). The number of applications from Japan increased last year, especially for the Madrid and Hague Systems, and he recognized the effort by WJO staff in promoting WIPO services and supporting customers in Japan.

Find out more