MIPLC Managing Board Chair Joseph Straus Awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

At a ceremony on July 21, 2005, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Joseph Straus, Chair of the Managing Board of the MIPLC, was awarded the "großes Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland," known in English as the "Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany." In presenting Prof. Straus with the Commander's Cross, Federal Minister of Justice Brigitte Zypries praised his great contributions to intellectual property law. Zypries emphasized Straus's commitment to innovation and internationality in his work as researcher, teacher and policy advisor and called him one of "the best German and European academics in the area of intellectual property." Zypries commended Straus for his understanding "that law must always adjust to and keep pace with new technological and social challenges," as well as his recognition of the importance of legal protection to an innovative economy, especially in times of globalization.