John D. Harris
Automatically compiled listing. Details may contain errors.Partner at Gowling WLG
- Called to the bar
- 1992
- Languages
- English
About John D. Harris
Established and start-up companies turn to John D. Harris for patent protection. A partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office, Harris writes and prosecutes patents and industrial designs, with most of that work falling in high-tech, mechanical and electrical fields. Newer start-ups and long-established businesses alike get advice on building a patent portfolio, licensing it and enforcing it.
Harris holds four professional qualifications: lawyer, Professional Engineer, and registered patent agent in both Canada and the United States. Both degrees came from Queen's University, an engineering BSc in 1988 and an LLB two years later, followed by a call to the Ontario bar in 1992. At Gowling WLG, Harris once led the firm's Intellectual Property Patent Group in Canada.
The technology covered over the years is broad. It runs from robotics, welding and agricultural equipment to semiconductor design, encryption, medical devices and nuclear scintillation cameras, and that's only a slice of it. When Canada overhauled its Patent Rules, Harris co-wrote practical pieces for applicants on what the changes meant for prosecution strategy.
Practice areas
Patents and industrial designs
Harris prepares patent and industrial design applications and takes them through examination, mainly for high-tech, mechanical and electrical work. The subject matter has ranged from computer hardware and software and network architecture to automotive technology and data storage systems.
Portfolios, licensing and enforcement
Start-ups and established companies turn to Harris for advice on managing patent portfolios, licensing their patents and enforcing them.
Education & credentials
- LLB, Queen's University (1990)
- BSc (Eng.), Queen's University (1988)
- Called to the Bar of Ontario (1992)
- Registered Canadian Patent Agent
- Registered United States Patent Agent
- Professional Engineer
Publications & speaking
Memberships & affiliations
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA): Harris is a member.
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): Harris is a member.
- IPIC: Harris is a member.
- AIPPI: Harris is a member.
- PEO: Harris is a member.
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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm John D. Harris’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗
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