In 2003, Mr. Francis Gurry was appointed Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He also serves as the WIPO Legal Counsel.

He is now responsible for WIPO activities in Geneva centering on electronic commerce and the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. Gurry currently deals with cover patents, domain names (the UDRP- Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy) as well as traditional knowledge and folklore.

He also serves as a Vice President of the International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions (IFCAI). Gurry's diverse career is also highlighted by a distinguished tenure as a solicitor and law lecturer in his native Australia, and recognition as a published author.

Gurry's term as Deputy Director General will expire in 2009.