Alistair Forster

Alistair's practice encompasses patent portfolio coordination, patent drafting and prosecution, as well as legal issues relating to IP due diligence, inventorship, ownership, and formalities. He is involved with the drafting and prosecution of patent applications in a broad range of technologies including computer hardware and software, chemical, electrical, and mechanical applications, and green- and clean-technologies.

Alistair also frequently advises clients on issues of on-line contracting, privacy and copyright. Alistair regularly assists clients with licensing issues, and provides advice on a number of related topics like Open Source software. Alistair also works with a number of SR&ED claimants and claim preparers in leveraging their activities into intellectual property rights.

Alistair's areas of interest include the patentability of software, and the intersection of technology with privacy issues and copyright. He routinely lectures and presents on these and other related topics. His research paper on the impact of technology on privacy and medical research garnered him the 2004 Ottawa Law Review Writing Prize.

Alistair is a chemical engineer and previously worked for a number of years as a Product Engineer at an Ottawa-area technology company in the development and testing of point-of-care blood analyzers.

Education

•  B.A.Sc., Chemical Engineering, University of Ottawa
•  LL.B., Ottawa University

Professional Involvement

• Ontario Bar Association
• Canadian Bar Association
• Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI)