Kamil Idris
Encyclopedia
Dr.
Kamil Eltayed Idris, also spelled Kamil Eltayeb Idris, (born on August 26, 1945, August 26, 1953, or August 26, 1954) is a Sudan
ese international civil servant. He was Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) from November 1997 to September 2008. He was also head of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
(UPOV).
Kamil Idris stepped down a year early from its post of head of WIPO, amidst "allegations of misconduct". According to the International Herald Tribune
, Kamil Idris "who used a false birth
date for more than two decades accepted a package including an extra year's salary ... and full pension benefits before he offered to resign over questions about his integrity." Kamil Idris blames the birth date discrepancy on a typographical error.
in Philosophy, Political Science and Economic Theories from Cairo University
, Egypt
, a Master in International Law and International Affairs from Ohio University
, United States
, and a Doctorate in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International Studies
, University of Geneva
, Switzerland
. However, the claim that he received a Master in International Law and International Affairs from Ohio University is disputed. Jessica Stark, spokeswoman for Ohio University, told the press that he received instead a Master of Arts in African Studies.
Kamil Idris joined WIPO on December 30, 1982. On September 22, 1997, he was appointed Director General of WIPO for a period of six years. He was formally re-appointed to a second six-year term as Director General of WIPO on May 27, 2003. His mandate was originally due to end on November 30, 2009.
Kamil Idris was member of the International Law Commission
from 1992 to 1996 and from 2000 to 2001.
On September 21, 2007, the Secretariat of the WIPO published "a note provid[ing] clarifications pertaining to a series of reported allegations and rumors concerning the Organization and its Director General". The note points out "a deliberate intention to harm" and criticizes the report by WIPO's Internal Audit and Oversight Division:
During the 10-day WIPO general assembly that ended on October 3, 2007, a move by the United States
, backed by developed countries, to remove Idris from his job was blocked by developing countries and the agency failed to approve a budget. A proposal to reduce Patent Cooperation Treaty
fees did not pass. On October 3, the government of Switzerland
, host country to WIPO, issued a press release citing "serious credibility" concerns and calling for an immediate search for a replacement for Idris. As a result of the crisis, the future of WIPO was questioned, "because its credibility has been undermined by the Idris affair". "The US [was] looking for other ways of regulating intellectual property and if it decides to go it alone “the days of WIPO are numbered"."
, then chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation
, interviewed early in 2008:
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
Kamil Eltayed Idris, also spelled Kamil Eltayeb Idris, (born on August 26, 1945, August 26, 1953, or August 26, 1954) is a Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese international civil servant. He was Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization
World Intellectual Property Organization
The World Intellectual Property Organization is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations. WIPO was created in 1967 "to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world"....
(WIPO) from November 1997 to September 2008. He was also head of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants or UPOV is an intergovernmental organization with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The current Secretary-General of UPOV is Francis Gurry....
(UPOV).
Kamil Idris stepped down a year early from its post of head of WIPO, amidst "allegations of misconduct". According to the International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
The International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
, Kamil Idris "who used a false birth
Age fabrication
Age fabrication occurs when an individual deliberately misrepresents his or her true age. This is usually done with the intent to garner privileges or status that would not otherwise be available to the individual...
date for more than two decades accepted a package including an extra year's salary ... and full pension benefits before he offered to resign over questions about his integrity." Kamil Idris blames the birth date discrepancy on a typographical error.
Education and career
According to a document prepared by the Office of the UPOV, Kamil Idris holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) from Khartoum University, Sudan, a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Philosophy, Political Science and Economic Theories from Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, a Master in International Law and International Affairs from Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a Doctorate in International Law from the Graduate Institute of International Studies
Graduate Institute of International Studies
The Graduate Institute of International Studies, best known as HEI , was founded in 1927 as one of the first institutions in the world dedicated to the study of international relations...
, University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. However, the claim that he received a Master in International Law and International Affairs from Ohio University is disputed. Jessica Stark, spokeswoman for Ohio University, told the press that he received instead a Master of Arts in African Studies.
Kamil Idris joined WIPO on December 30, 1982. On September 22, 1997, he was appointed Director General of WIPO for a period of six years. He was formally re-appointed to a second six-year term as Director General of WIPO on May 27, 2003. His mandate was originally due to end on November 30, 2009.
Kamil Idris was member of the International Law Commission
International Law Commission
The International Law Commission was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 for the "promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification."It holds an annual session at the United Nations Office at Geneva....
from 1992 to 1996 and from 2000 to 2001.
Controversy
A report, carried out by WIPO's Internal Audit and Oversight Division at the request of the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit and subsequently leaked to journalists, concluded that Kamil Idris repeatedly misrepresented his age. The report stated "that Idris sought to change his records at WIPO to show that he was born on August 26, 1954, despite signing numerous earlier documents showing his date of birth as August 26, 1945."On September 21, 2007, the Secretariat of the WIPO published "a note provid[ing] clarifications pertaining to a series of reported allegations and rumors concerning the Organization and its Director General". The note points out "a deliberate intention to harm" and criticizes the report by WIPO's Internal Audit and Oversight Division:
- "Despite grave concerns over the value of the said report, its legitimacy, the fallacy of its conclusions and the failure of its author to observe due process and principles of independence, the report was somehow made available to some Member States and other parties, hence compromising its confidential status."
During the 10-day WIPO general assembly that ended on October 3, 2007, a move by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, backed by developed countries, to remove Idris from his job was blocked by developing countries and the agency failed to approve a budget. A proposal to reduce Patent Cooperation Treaty
Patent Cooperation Treaty
The Patent Cooperation Treaty is an international patent law treaty, concluded in 1970. It provides a unified procedure for filing patent applications to protect inventions in each of its contracting states...
fees did not pass. On October 3, the government of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, host country to WIPO, issued a press release citing "serious credibility" concerns and calling for an immediate search for a replacement for Idris. As a result of the crisis, the future of WIPO was questioned, "because its credibility has been undermined by the Idris affair". "The US [was] looking for other ways of regulating intellectual property and if it decides to go it alone “the days of WIPO are numbered"."
Resignation
Kamil Idris stepped down a year early from his post of head of WIPO, amidst "allegations of misconduct". He agreed to resign under pressure from Western countries. According to the International Herald Tribune, Kamil Idris "who used a false birth date for more than two decades accepted a package including an extra year's salary of more than US$300,000 (€200,000) and full pension benefits before he offered to resign over questions about his integrity."Legacy
According to Roland GrossenbacherRoland Grossenbacher
Dr. Roland Edouard Grossenbacher is a Swiss attorney at law, who served as chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation from March 5, 2000 to March 4, 2009. He was appointed at this post for a first three-year term on 5 March 2000. He was then reelected in 2002 for a...
, then chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation
Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation
The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation is one of the two organs of the European Patent Organisation , the other being the European Patent Office . The Administrative Council acts as the Organisation's supervisory body as well as, to a limited extent, its legislative body...
, interviewed early in 2008: