Dr.
Mihály Ficsor
Resident
in Hungary
Tel:
(202) 833-4198
Dr. Mihály Ficsor, one of the best-known experts in the field of international copyright, is a consultant to the International Intellectual Property Allianceâ (IIPAŇ), a private sector coalition of seven U.S. trade associations which represent over 1,900 companies producing and distributing materials protected by copyright laws throughout the world, including: business applications software; entertainment software on all platforms; theatrical films, television programs, home videos, and digital representations of audiovisual works; music, records, CDs, and audiocassettes; and textbooks, tradebooks, reference and professional publications and journals (in both electronic and print media).
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Dr. Ficsor entered the practice of law as a judge, became an official in the Hungarian Ministry of Justice and then became Director General of ARTISJUS, the Hungarian authors’ rights society. In these capacities he was instrumental in bringing the copyright law of his country up to the highest international standards. In 1985, he joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and ultimately became Assistant Director General in charge of the Copyright Sector. He oversaw a vast array of developments in the copyright field culminating in his service as Secretary to the Diplomatic Conference that resulted in the adoption of the new WIPO “Internet” Treaties which establish the new international legal framework for copyright protection over the Internet. He now serves on a regular basis as a consultant to WIPO. Dr. Ficsor also has expertise as a member of a WTO Dispute Settlement Panel in intellectual property matters.
Dr. Ficsor holds a doctorate in law and political science from the University of Budapest and lectures extensively on a global basis on intellectual property matters. He has written numerous articles and books on various copyright issues, particularly on the collective management of copyright and related rights and on the impact of new technologies (especially digital technology and the Internet) on copyright. He has authored the definitive treatise on the WIPO Internet Treaties, “The Law of Copyright and the Internet,” published by Oxford University Press (2002). In 2003, WIPO published Dr. Ficsor’s “Guide to the Copyright and Related Rights Treaties Administered by the WIPO and Glossary of Copyright and Related Rights Terms.” He is the author of the Hungary copyright law chapter in the treatise, “Geller & Nimmer: International Copyright Law and Practice.” He participates as an expert at a large number of intellectual property seminars, symposiums, and workshops throughout the world. He speaks English, French, Hungarian, Italian, Russian and Spanish, and reads German, Portuguese and other languages.
Dr. Ficsor resides in Budapest, Hungary. He is not admitted to the Bar of the District of Columbia.
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