How is the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Governed ? The Director General, Deputy Directors General, and Governing Bodies
Like any complex international organization, WIPO operates on the basis of a clear leadership structure that combines the executive leadership of the Secretariat with the governance exercised by member states through the decision-making bodies. The Sixty-Eighth Series of Assembly meetings in fact includes important items concerning the Organization's leadership.
The Director General
The Director General is WIPO's most senior official and heads the Organization's Secretariat. He is appointed by the General Assembly, upon nomination by the Coordination Committee, for a fixed term. Since October 2020, the post of Director General has been held by Daren Tang of Singapore. In 2026, the Coordination Committee nominated him for a second term, to be confirmed by the General Assembly; the second term would begin on 1 October 2026. The Director General sets the strategic directions, presents his annual report before the Assemblies and is responsible for the administration of the Organization.
The Deputy Directors General and Assistant Directors General
The Director General is supported by a senior management team made up of Deputy Directors General (DDGs) and Assistant Directors General (ADGs). There are normally four Deputy Directors General and four Assistant Directors General, each overseeing a sector of the Organization (for example, patents and technology, trademarks and designs, copyright, development, administration). They are appointed by the Director General. The appointment of the new leadership team for the term beginning in October 2026 is on the agenda of the current series of meetings (the item on the appointment of Deputy Directors General and Assistant Directors General).
The chairs of the decision-making bodies
WIPO's governance is exercised by member states through the decision-making bodies: the General Assembly, the Coordination Committee and the assemblies of each Union (Paris, Berne, PCT, Madrid, Hague, Lisbon, Marrakesh, and others). Each body is led by a chair and vice-chairs, elected from among the representatives of member states. The election of these officers is a recurring item on the agenda of the Assemblies, ensuring the leadership of the proceedings for the period ahead.
This dual structure – a Secretariat headed by the Director General on the one hand, and decision-making bodies led by representatives of states on the other – guarantees the balance between administrative expertise and the democratic control exercised by the members.
Why it matters for consumers
The decisions of WIPO's leadership shape the Organization's priorities, including with regard to combating counterfeiting, supporting innovation and providing access to culture and knowledge. Through its presence at the Assemblies, InfoCons works to ensure that these priorities remain aligned with the public interest and with consumer protection, regardless of the composition of the leadership. Transparent and accountable governance of WIPO is a guarantee of a fair intellectual property system that serves citizens.
InfoCons, a voice for consumers in international forums
InfoCons is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO, the only consumer protection organization in Romania accredited within this international forum. This official recognition places Romania on the global map of organizations that contribute to the international dialogue in the field of intellectual property. Through its participation in WIPO meetings and working groups, InfoCons promotes consumer interests and supports policies that encourage innovation and the fight against counterfeiting.
At European level, InfoCons is an active member of the EUIPO Observatory – the European Union Intellectual Property Office – with an important role within the Civil Society Working Group. At national level, the organization has been part, since 2006, of the Working Group on Intellectual Property Matters, coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. This involvement on three levels – national, European and international – gives InfoCons a complete perspective on the counterfeiting phenomenon.
The organization's commitment translates into concrete actions: European projects dedicated to young people, large-scale awareness campaigns and an innovative app that puts information within reach of every consumer. All of these share a common denominator: the conviction that respect for intellectual property rights and consumer protection are two sides of the same coin.
In this context, the presence of InfoCons at the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is a natural continuation of nearly two decades of work dedicated to defending consumer interests in the field of intellectual property.
From information to action: the role of the InfoCons app
InfoCons' objective is not only to provide access to information, but also to empower consumers through digital innovation. The InfoCons app – a unique, innovative application – gives them practical tools to identify risks and actively contribute to a safer and more transparent marketplace. Through a simple barcode or QR code scan, consumers can access relevant information about products, right in front of the shelf.
One of the key features is the alerts section, which makes it possible to verify whether a product is subject to official safety alerts issued at European level, for both food and non-food products. The app provides information on the product name, the country concerned, the level of risk, the country of origin, the date the alert was published and an image of the product. At the same time, through dedicated functionalities, citizens can report products or services that may infringe intellectual property rights through counterfeiting or piracy.
Available in 33 languages, the app helps to disseminate consumer protection and intellectual property awareness messages at European and international level. Its educational dimension promotes informed choices and a culture based on responsibility, transparency and originality.
The presence of InfoCons at the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is a concrete demonstration of how digital innovation can support respect for intellectual property rights and protect consumers in Romania and around the world.
Intellectual property and the everyday consumer
Intellectual property is often perceived as a technical subject reserved for lawyers and large companies. In reality, it is present in the life of each of us, every single day. The trademark on a product tells us who made it and guarantees a certain standard of quality; patents make it possible for new medicines, technologies and innovative solutions to emerge; copyright rewards the work of those who create cultural and educational content. When these rights are infringed through counterfeiting or piracy, the first to suffer is often the consumer.
Counterfeit products mean not only economic losses for companies and public budgets, but also a real danger to people's health and safety. Counterfeit toys, cosmetics, car parts, medicines or electronics can endanger consumers' lives, precisely because they are made without respecting quality and safety standards. In an increasingly digital economy, where online commerce erases borders, these risks multiply, and the need for accurate, rapid information becomes essential.
That is precisely why InfoCons has developed a unique and innovative consumer protection app that allows people to check products before buying them, consult European safety alerts and report products suspected of counterfeiting or piracy. Through this digital tool, every consumer becomes an active partner in the shared effort to make the marketplace safer, more transparent and fairer.
InfoCons' participation in the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is part of this steady commitment: bringing the voice of Romanian and European consumers to the world's foremost intellectual property forum and turning global debates into concrete protection for citizens.
Signature: InfoCons Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property Department