Speaking
A passionate and experienced public speaker, I have delivered over 100 invited lectures and presentations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. My goal is always to translate research insights into practical recommendations, whether speaking with policymakers at international organizations, Parliamentarians at governmental committees, business leaders at industry conferences, among academic audiences at scholarly events, or to the general public through media appearances. Speaking is also an important part of my legal practice, for example discussing strategy with law firms and businesses, or appearing in cases before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Featured Articles
The Future of Intellectual Property
We start by laying out some “laws” of the futures, including this one by the legendary Jim Dator…
Evidence-based Intellectual Property Policymaking
One might assume that the global governance of IP rights rests on a solid foundation of evidence. Think again…
Featured Audio and Video
Latest Articles
The Future of Intellectual Property
We start by laying out some “laws” of the futures, including this one by the legendary Jim Dator…
Evidence-based Intellectual Property Policymaking
One might assume that the global governance of IP rights rests on a solid foundation of evidence. Think again…
All Articles
What Innovation? Big Thinking on Progress and Measurement
There’s so much buzz about innovation and science and technology and productivity. But, what do we really mean by these terms? What does progress look like? How will we know when we’re doing better? How can we best promote innovation, which by definition is rarely predictable and often disruptive?...
Adapting to the Challenges of Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology
Biotechnology regulation is a controversial and complex issue. My research helps to solve practical challenges like building the policy consensus and public acceptance required to promote agricultural biotechnology as a solution to problems like food security, rural economic development, and science and technology innovation. One of my many public lectures about...
Courts Play a Key Role in Regulation and Governance of Agricultural Innovation
Our courts, through litigation, can shape the regulation and governance of agricultural innovation, especially biotechnologies. As part of the University of Saskatchewan College of Law‘s Guest Speaker Program, I presented some of my new research: “Judging Biotech: How the Courts Control Our Crops,” explores how agricultural biotechnologies policy can be affected...
Free Trade, Federalism & Technology Policy: A Public Lecture
This public lecture and accompanying presentation, explained how free trade, federalism, and technology policy are integrally linked. Among the core challenges is implementing the intellectual property provisions of international trade agreements, such as the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in federal systems, a topic I’ve researched and written about...
Implementing WIPO’s Development Agenda in North Africa and the Middle East
Mosques, Tunis, 1932, by Smithsonian American Art Museum, on Flickr. The World Intellectual Property Organization invited me to speak about my trade and development research, specifically my book Implementing the WIPO’s Development Agenda, during an outreach and capacity-building seminar in Tunis, Tunisia. It was surprising (though in hindsight, it shouldn’t...
The Copyright Board’s Legal History Making
The Copyright Board is far more than a rate-setting body; it is heavily involved in either making or implementing copyright policy. While Parliament and the courts have, and exercise, the power to determine the law, increasingly these bodies are relying on the Board to apply the law in practice....
Intellectual Property & Traditional Knowledge: My Interview on CBC Spark
Indigenous communities from India to South Africa to Canada have seen their traditional knowledge misappropriated and commercialized. In some cases, intellectual property rights are the root of the problem. In other cases, intellectual property rights can be part of the solution.
Who Really Owns the Stanley Cup?
As most of you remember, there was one year where the Stanley Cup was not awarded because of a labour dispute between the National Hockey League and its players. This dispute resulted in the 2004-2005 lockout, as well as a lawsuit over the ownership of the Stanley Cup. The...
Rights and Responsibilities of GMO Patent Owners
Levitation: Considering Proposals for More Private Copying Levies
My work on private copying levies was presented in Banff, Canada at a conference called, “Ethics, Creativity and Copyright” in August 2006. You can read my publications related to this topic...