Submitted by Section Secretary, Pablo Tseng
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held:5
November 3, 2016
Guest Speaker: n/a
Meeting Title/Topic: Annual Social Event
Synopsis: Annual Social Event held at Terminal City Lions Pub, 888 West Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC between 17:30 and 20:00.
February 10, 2017
Guest Speaker: David Crane, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP (Vancouver)
Meeting Title/Topic: Innovative and Effective Approaches for Contracting for Software Development
Synopsis: Software development projects have a high failure rate. More often than not, they experience adversities such as delays, ballooning costs and defective work product. Having a well-drafted development agreement that effectively memorializes the deal and appropriately allocates risks between the parties is critical. This session provided an overview of key risks and issues with respect to software development agreements and how they can be addressed through innovative approaches and effective contractual mechanisms. It included an examination of the increasingly popular "agile" software development methodology, including its advantages and disadvantages and how an agreement for agile software development requires a specialized contractual approach.
May 5, 2017
Guest Speaker: Ronan Reinart from Bell Alliance
Meeting Title/Topic: Through The Looking Glass: Emerging Issues in Advanced Visual Effects
Synopsis: Ronan provided a presentation on copyright issues surrounding new computer and digital techniques in the film making business.
June 8,2017
Guest Speaker: n/a
Meeting Title/Topic: Social Meeting
Synopsis: Social event held at Elephant & Castle Pub at 385 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2G8 between 18:00 and 20:00.
June 26, 2017
Guest Speaker: Christopher Sweeney of Knobbe Martens (Seattle)
Meeting Title/Topic: Biotech Patents and 101 Rejections: Strategies for Securing and Maximizing Protection in the US
Synopsis: Chris gave a presentation on recent developments in the area of patent eligibility subject matter in the United States.
Comments and Observations of the Secretary
The number of professionals practising in Intellectual Property and Technology in Vancouver is small. The section meetings, therefore, provide a great opportunity for these professionals to meet and discuss updates to their practice. Many of our events occurred in the late spring and early summer. We will endeavour to organize a section meeting in the winter months next term. Overall, the executive team enjoyed working together and meeting fellow professionals in the practice area. We look forward to the next term.