WIPO closes investigation into Gurry allegations

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has agreed to close an investigation into allegations against director general Francis Gurry.

WIPO announced on Friday, October 7, that an investigation by the UN’s internal oversight body, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), will be no longer be discussed by the coordination committee—the governing body responsible for staff matters.

The chairs of WIPO’s general assembly and coordination committee had previously decided to close all investigations regarding alleged misconduct and take no further action.

“Member states agreed unanimously to move forward in a constructive and positive spirit with the ongoing work at WIPO to review and strengthen internal procedures relating to procurement, internal oversight, and whistle-blower policy,” said WIPO.

It added that Gurry welcomed the decision and “the renewed confidence reposed in him by WIPO’s member states”.

In April 2014, a report by former WIPO deputy director James Pooley claimed that Gurry ordered a series of burglaries of workers’ offices in order to obtain samples of their DNA.

The OIOS report, provided to member state delegates in WIPO offices in February this year, found there was no evidence that Gurry was involved in taking DNA samples.