Mr. David Watson

This oral history features patent lawyer David Watson discussing approximately twenty significant patent cases from his career spanning the 1950s through the 1990s. Watson describes his evolution from a junior lawyer handling technical aspects of cases alongside Gordon Henderson to becoming a leading patent counsel in his own right. He provides detailed accounts of landmark cases involving compulsory licensing, industrial designs, patent validity challenges, and emerging areas like biotechnology patents.

Watson’s cases covered diverse industries including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, rubber manufacturing, forestry equipment, and food processing. He discusses the practical aspects of patent litigation, including the challenges of translating complex technical concepts for judges, the evolution of expert witness procedures, and the transition from the Exchequer Court to the Federal Court system. The interview reveals Watson’s role in establishing important legal precedents, particularly in biotechnology patents with the Abitibi case (first patent on living matter) and his unsuccessful but legally significant attempt to patent plant varieties in Pioneer Hi-Bred.

The discussion also covers Watson’s partnership at what became Gowling, Strathy & Henderson, his transition to counsel status in 1987, and reflections on the competitive dynamics between Ottawa’s major patent firms. Watson’s technical engineering background proved crucial in cross-examining expert witnesses and preparing complex technical arguments for appellate courts, including numerous appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.