Derek Smith

The role focuses on helping companies identify what IP they own or could develop, align their IP strategy with business goals, and make informed decisions on protection, commercialization, and risk management. I act as a trusted advisor, translating complex IP concepts into practical business terms, supporting clients through structured coaching sessions, and connecting them to additional IP resources, tools, and professional services where needed. My emphasis is on education, empowerment, and building IP capacity within growing technology companies.

Founded Magneto to solve complicated intellectual property problems with a focus on small and medium sized entrepreneurial companies and to provide advanced intellectual property and technology innovation management services.

Geotab is a technology innovator and telematics engineering leader in the area of GPS fleet management and vehicle tracking industry. Geotab provides scalable end-to-end hardware and software solutions. Present focus is with intellectual property strategy and constructing a valuable patent portfolio.

Founded this company to provide commercial pilot services to the general aviation seaplane industry. Experienced seaplane instructor and owner, operator of a Cessna 180 on PK3000 floats. Present focus is on advanced training and threat management such as glassy water landings.

As a guest lecturer in Professor Mika Westerlund’s course, Issues in Technology Innovation Management, I deliver a 3 hour lecture and workshop on intellectual property (IP) issues in the context of technological innovation. My lecture focuses on the strategic role of IP in innovation management, covering topics such as the basics of IP, the key issues, risk management, and the challenges faced by startups and established companies in protecting and leveraging their IP assets. We also do a case study workshop on the topic of patent trolling. The sessions are designed to provide students with practical insights and real-world examples to complement the academic framework of the course.

A part time commercial bush pilot with Future Air (2005-2007) and Lake Country Airways (2008-present) conducting seaplane endorsements, pilot check rides, charter operations and sight seeing flights. Experience with the Cessna 172, 180, and the DHC2 Beaver on straight floats. Also experienced with the Cessna 185 and turbo 206 on both straight floats and amphibian floats.

Husky is a global manufacturer of machinery and equipment for the injection molding industry with 3400 employees at more than 40 worldwide locations and sales over $1 billion as reported by Onex in 2009. Global leader for worldwide intellectual property leading a team of in-house intellectual property professionals in Canada, the United States, Luxembourg, and China and foreign associates in 30 other key jurisdictions. Sharing professional and technical knowledge and expertise through mentoring and coaching team members. Specialized experience relating to interferences, pre-appeal briefs and appeals, ex-parte reexamination and strategy, patent clearance, and oppositions and oral proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO) and intellectual property litigation in Europe and the United States. Together, we created a high performing international team based upon best practices. Established and maintained the global intellectual property operations, procedures, practices and budget. Involved with intellectual property due diligence during the original private equity sale to Onex Corporation and subsequent private equity re-sale to Berkshire Partners and OMERS.

Bell is Canada's largest communications company providing consumers with solutions to all their communication needs, including telephone services, wireless communications, high-speed internet, digital television and voice over IP. Established a global patent creation strategy and an anti-troll telecommunication strategy. Redefined the corporate intellectual property practices and standard operating procedures for drafting, filing, and prosecution of patent applications. Intellectual property lead assessing and determining a portion of the patent portfolio for sale and/or licensing in the transaction and multi-million dollar sale of Voice Over IP (VOIP) technology and business to a private equity company that formed NewStep Networks. Drafting and prosecution of patents in the telecommunications and internet market segments.

Drafting and prosecution of patent applications in Canada, Europe, and the United States with a wide range of complex technologies (computers (software and hardware), internet, mechanical, machine controls, programmable logic controllers, embedded systems, injection molding, metal molding, plastic compositions and parts). Transformed the business model from a patent engineering model that relied completely upon outside associates to an internal team of registered professionals in three key jurisdictions and established global standards and procedures.

IBM Canada is one of Canada's leading providers of advanced information technology, products, services and business consulting expertise. Senior Management Consultant (1997-1999) and IBM certified professional in the area of information technology strategy. Consulting engagements included solutions for health care, petroleum, and hydroelectric industries. Senior Information Technology Architect (1994-1997) leading a small team in the area of CDROM multimedia research and product development. Patent Engineer / Agent (1992-1994) registered as a patent agent with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and as a patent agent with the United Sates Patent and Trademark Office. Drafting and prosecution of computer related inventions. Intellectual Property Analyst (1988-1992) investigating complex copyright infringement of the Personal Computer firmware basic input output system in the computer clone industry. Staff Engineer (1983-1988) involved in software and hardware research and product development.

Research Topic: Citation-based patent evaluation methodologies in industrial practice: A patent trolling litigation perspective.

My degree is in electrical engineering with a major in systems and computer engineering. Personal interest in real time imbedded systems, digital hardware, and real time microcode.