Michael Crichton
Partner
Patent Agent
- Year of Call, Ontario (2004)
Bio
Michael Crichton is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office and former Canadian leader of Gowling WLG's Intellectual Property Litigation & Strategy Group.
Michael has over two decades of experience as an intellectual property litigator and strategic adviser. Michael assists both domestic and international clients that engage in a wide range of technologies, including mechanical, electrical, computer hardware and software, manufacturing/fabrication, communications, and related technologies.
With a focus on patent, complex trade secret and copyright litigation matters, Michael has conducted numerous trials as lead counsel. Michael’s intellectual property litigation expertise is frequently recognized by Lexpert, IAM Patent 1000, Managing IP’s IP Stars, The Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal: Patents, and The Best Lawyers in Canada. In 2025, he was also shortlisted for Practitioner of the Year (Patent Disputes) at the Managing IP Americas Awards. Michael is also particularly experienced with respect to Canada/U.S. cross-border intellectual property litigation and related matters.
Outside of the courtroom, Michael regularly represents and advises clients with respect to licensing of intellectual property, mediation and settlement negotiations, and opinions regarding patent infringement, patent validity and related issues. In addition, as a registered patent agent for over a decade, Michael's practice includes patent drafting, prosecution and portfolio management.
Michael is a regular author on intellectual property matters, including articles published by IAM, Managing IP and the Financial Post, among others, as well as a chapter regarding patent litigation in Canada for the treatise Global Patent Litigation: How and where to win published by Bloomberg BNA.
In 2017, Michael was named a Lexpert "Rising Star - Leading Lawyer under 40" for being at the top of the legal profession in Canada - both in his law practice and in the community. In 2015, he was also recognized as a Forty under 40 winner by the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce for both his business and community accomplishments.
Michael was previously an adjunct professor of intellectual property litigation, and prior to that an adjunct professor of patent law, at the University of Ottawa. In addition, Michael is the chair of the Ottawa chapter of the Licensing Executives Society, a member of the IP Court Practice Committee for the Canadian Bar Association, and a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. For several years, Michael also served as editor-in-chief of Gowling WLG's IP Report.
Bio
Michael Crichton is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office and former Canadian leader of Gowling WLG's Intellectual Property Litigation & Strategy Group.
Michael has over two decades of experience as an intellectual property litigator and strategic adviser. Michael assists both domestic and international clients that engage in a wide range of technologies, including mechanical, electrical, computer hardware and software, manufacturing/fabrication, communications, and related technologies.
With a focus on patent, complex trade secret and copyright litigation matters, Michael has conducted numerous trials as lead counsel. Michael’s intellectual property litigation expertise is frequently recognized by Lexpert, IAM Patent 1000, Managing IP’s IP Stars, The Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal: Patents, and The Best Lawyers in Canada. In 2025, he was also shortlisted for Practitioner of the Year (Patent Disputes) at the Managing IP Americas Awards. Michael is also particularly experienced with respect to Canada/U.S. cross-border intellectual property litigation and related matters.
Outside of the courtroom, Michael regularly represents and advises clients with respect to licensing of intellectual property, mediation and settlement negotiations, and opinions regarding patent infringement, patent validity and related issues. In addition, as a registered patent agent for over a decade, Michael's practice includes patent drafting, prosecution and portfolio management.
Michael is a regular author on intellectual property matters, including articles published by IAM, Managing IP and the Financial Post, among others, as well as a chapter regarding patent litigation in Canada for the treatise Global Patent Litigation: How and where to win published by Bloomberg BNA.
In 2017, Michael was named a Lexpert "Rising Star - Leading Lawyer under 40" for being at the top of the legal profession in Canada - both in his law practice and in the community. In 2015, he was also recognized as a Forty under 40 winner by the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce for both his business and community accomplishments.
Michael was previously an adjunct professor of intellectual property litigation, and prior to that an adjunct professor of patent law, at the University of Ottawa. In addition, Michael is the chair of the Ottawa chapter of the Licensing Executives Society, a member of the IP Court Practice Committee for the Canadian Bar Association, and a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. For several years, Michael also served as editor-in-chief of Gowling WLG's IP Report.
Experience
Experience
Representative Work
Michael has litigated dozens of patent and other complex IP-related cases. The following are some notable examples:
- Paid Search Engine Tools, LLC v. Google LLC et al. (Fed. Ct. A, 19-22, A-172-21, A-269-20, T-40-18): patent infringement case involving search engine bid management (counsel for Google)
- Ag Growth International Inc. v. Soaring Eagle Grain Equipment Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-153-22): patent infringement case involving drive-over conveyor systems (counsel for Ag Growth)
- Molo Design, Ltd. v. Chanel Canada ULC et al. (Fed. Ct. T-379-21): patent infringement case involving flexible wall systems (counsel for Chanel)
- GE Renewable Energy Canada Inc. v. Canmec Industrial Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-1471-21): copyright infringement case related to designs of mechanical hydro gates (counsel for GE)
- JCAI Inc. v. Wiseleap Solutions Inc. et al. (T-1386-21): patent infringement case involving aircraft de-icing coordination (counsel for JCAI)
- Aeritas, LLC v. Finnair Oyj (Fed. Ct. T-710-21): patent infringement case involving wireless e-commerce transactions (counsel for Finnair)
- dTechs EPM Ltd. v. BC Hydro et al. (Fed. Ct. A-121-21, T-227-17): patent infringement case involving theft detection in electricity grids (counsel for BC Hydro)
- Cosentino, S.A.U. et al. v. Cambria Company LLC (Fed. Ct. T-1422-20): patent infringement case involving manufacturing of artificial stone (counsel for Cosentino)
- Seedlings Life Science Ventures, LLC v. Pfizer Canada Inc. (Fed. Ct. A-44-20, A-431-19, T-608-17): patent infringement case involving auto-injectors (counsel for Seedlings)
- Tatuyou, LLC v. Saniderm Medical, LLC et al. (Fed. Ct. T-260-19, T-253-19, T-255-19, T-257-19): patent infringement case involving film for tattoo aftercare (counsel for all defendants)
- Damon Pourshian v. The Walt Disney Company et al. (Ont. Ct. CV-18-00599966): copyright infringement case related to the movie INSIDE OUT (counsel for Pourshian)
- Denis Cimaf Inc. v. Fecon Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-1861-17): patent infringement case involving brush cutters (counsel for Fecon)
- Wi-LAN, Inc. v. LG Electronics, Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-1349-17): patent infringement case involving wireless communication systems, including cell phone handover technologies (counsel for LG Electronics)
- Lantech.com, LLC v. Wulftec International Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-1396-13): patent infringement case involving stretch wrappers (counsel for Lantech)
- Copperhead Industrial Inc. et al. v. Changer & Dresser Inc. et al. (Fed. Ct. T-1547-17, T-568-17, T-1817-16, T-1202-16): multiple patent infringement actions regarding spot welding cap changers, plus a related application proceeding (counsel for Changer & Dresser)
- GroupBy Inc. et al. v. Conscia Corporation et al. (Ont. Ct. 16-558507): trade secret and copyright infringement case involving e-commerce search technologies (counsel for GroupBy)
- AKC Applied Knowledge Corp. v. JuxtaComm Technologies, Inc. et al. (Ont. Ct. 16-68771): trade secret and copyright infringement case involving database technologies (counsel for AKC)
- Hawk Technology Systems, LLC v. Graybar Canada Limited (Fed. Ct. T-527-16): patent infringement case involving video monitoring systems (counsel for Graybar)
- Celestica International Inc. v. Valydate Inc. (Ont. Ct. 15-522277): trade secret case involving modelling tools for analyzing circuit designs (counsel for Valydate)
- Fraunhofer-Institut v. TeraXion Inc., et al. (Ont. Ct. 15-63245): trade secret and copyright case involving optical communications chips (counsel for Fraunhofer)
- Cyber Anatomy Corporation et al. v. Global Medical - VR Inc. et al. (Que. Ct. 550-17-007439-134): trade secret and copyright case involving 3D virtual reality human anatomy software products (counsel for Global Medical)
- SOTA Glazing Inc. v. State Window Corporation (Fed. Ct. T-652-13): patent case involving hybrid window/curtain wall systems (counsel for SOTA Glazing)
- ABB Inc. et al. v. Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (Fed. Ct. A-346-13, A-379-13 & T-735-11): patent case involving gas-insulated switchgear assemblies (counsel for ABB)
- Seewind Design Corp. v. Accenture Business Services For Utilities Inc. et al. (Ont. Ct. 11-50541): trade secret case involving business processes for collection of accounts receivable (counsel for SeeWind)
- Triacta Power Technologies Inc. v. Sieco-Tech Canada Inc. et al. (Fed. Ct. T-1991-10): patent case involving power metering and monitoring (counsel for Triacta)
- International Control Systems, LLC et al. v. Haier America Trading LLC (Fed. Ct. T-1654-11): patent case involving automatic volume levellers for televisions (counsel for Haier)
- Osram Sylvania Inc. et al. v. Lakefront Lighting Inc. et al. (Fed. Ct. T-1511-09): patent case involving induction lighting products (counsel for Lakefront)
- Sirific Wireless Corporation v. Leonard MacEachern (Ont. Ct.01-CV-221390CM 3): inventorship case involving virtual local oscillator technology for wireless communications (counsel for Sirific)
- Car-Ber Investments Inc. et al. v. Eastcoast Maintenance Services Limited (Fed. Ct.T-1502-09): patent case involving isolation and test plugs for petro-chemical industry (counsel for Eastcoast)
- Environmental Health Foundation v. Transpharm Canada Inc. et al. (Ont. Ct. 09-CV-382920): trade secret case involving anti-cancer compounds (counsel for Transpharm)
- Blackboard Inc. v. Desire2Learn Incorporated (Fed. Ct. T-655-09): patent case involving e-learning software (counsel for Desire2Learn)
- Bridgeview Manufacturing Inc. et al. v. DuraTech Industries International, Inc. et al. (Fed. Ct. A-86-09 & T-1554-05): patent case involving bale processors (counsel for Bridgeview)
- Nuance Communications, Inc. et al. v. Zi Corporation (Fed. Ct. T-1324-08): patent case involving software for text messaging (counsel for Zi)
- Fred Dufresne v. Central 1 Credit Union (Fed. Ct. T-855-08): patent case involving dynamically-generated Web pages and state-based client-server sessions (counsel for Central 1)
- INO Therapeutics LLC et al. v. Vitalaire Canada Inc. (Fed. Ct. T-102-08): patent case involving use of nitric oxide as vasodilator (counsel for INO Therapeutics)
- JAY-LOR Fabricating Inc. v. Lucknow Products (Fed. Ct. T-1958-07): patent case involving vertical feed mixers (counsel for JAY-LOR)
- JAY-LOR Fabricating Inc. v. Penta Farm Systems Ltd. (Fed. Ct. A-217-07 & T-103-05): patent case involving vertical feed mixers (counsel for JAY-LOR)
- Zero Spill Systems (Int'l) Inc. et al. v. Lea-Der Coatings et al. (Fed. Ct. T-279-07): patent case involving equipment for drilling rigs (counsel for Lea-Der Coatings)
- Raymor Industries Inc. et al. v. National Research Council of Canada et al. (Fed. Ct. T-1856-06): patent case involving plasma torches for synthesizing single-walled carbon nanotubes (counsel for National Research Council)
- JDS Uniphase Inc. v. Metconnex Canada Inc. (Ont. Ct. 05-CV-31805): trade secret case involving wavelength selective switches and microelectromechanical systems (counsel for JDS Uniphase)
- Adobe Systems Incorporated, Autodesk, Inc. and Symantec Corporation v. Capmatic Ltd. et al. (Fed. Ct. T-665-05): copyright infringement and Anton Piller case involving unlicensed end-user software installations (counsel for Adobe, Autodesk and Symantec)
- Willie Stalwick v. BOS Rentals Inc. (Fed. Ct.T-752-05): patent case involving floc tanks for drilling fluid (counsel for Stalwick)
- J.J. MacKay Canada Limited v. Société en Commandite Stationnement de Montréal (Fed. Ct. T- 115-05): patent case involving pay-by-space parking meter system (counsel for J.J. MacKay)
- Nucap Industries Inc. et al. v. Capital Tool & Design Limited (Fed. Ct. T-868-04): patent case involving brake pads for automobiles (counsel for Capital Tool)
- Ross Stonehouse v. Ag Growth Industries Inc. et al. (Fed. Ct. 08-A-2 & T-153-01): patent case involving drive-over conveyors for grain handling (counsel for Ag Growth)
- Ellience Control Systems Inc. v. Timberland Ford Inc. et al. (Fed. Ct. T-2023-03): patent case involving throttle modulation device for trucks (counsel for Ellience)
Qualifications
Qualifications
Career
2012
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Partner
2004
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Associate
Education
2003
University of Ottawa, LLB, cum laude
2000
Carleton University, B.Eng. (Electrical), with High Distinction
Languages Spoken
English
Memberships
- Canadian Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (Fellow)
- Law Society of Ontario
- Licensing Executives Society
Community
Editor-in-chief, Gowlings IP Report
2010
Adjunct Professor, Patents and IP Litigation, University of Ottawa
2009
Chapter Chair, Ottawa Chapter, Licensing Executives Society
2006
Publications & speaking engagements
Publications & speaking engagements
- Crichton, M., Van Barr, C., "Google Wins Patent Infringement Litigation Aimed at Google Ads", January 2022
- Crichton, M., "Enforcement-related considerations for patent valuation: The perspective from Canada", IAM Weekly, January 2022
- Crichton, M., Medeiros, M., "Patent License Negotiation/Purchase and Sale" Workshop, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada & McGill University, July 2021
- Crichton, M., Medeiros, M., Stott, T., "Patent Licensing Realities", Intellectual Property Institute of Canada & McGill University, July 2021
- Crichton, M., "Basics of IP Licensing", Intellectual Property Institute of Canada & McGill University, June 2021
- Crichton, M., Godfrey, N., Crandall, M., "Patent for detecting marijuana grow-ops found not infringed and invalid", March 2021
- Crichton, M., Gloor, A., Dong, C., "Canadian patent law: 2020 year in review", January 2021
- Crichton, M., "$644-million award for patent infringement upheld on appeal; Accounting of profits remedy removes 'economic incentive to infringe'", October 2020
- Crichton, M., Gramenopoulos, G., Jandoli, V., Kuppers, R., Thornham, C., "Global Patent Litigation: Leveraging the Substantive and Procedural Differences Between the U.S., Europe, and Canada", June 2020
- Crichton, M., Gramenopoulos, G., Jandoli, V., Kuppers, R., Thornham, C., "Global Patent Litigation: Trends, Tools, and Strategies to Enforce Your Patent Rights Globally", June 2020
- Crichton, M., Feil-Fraser, E., "Canadian IP Courts' updated responses to COVID-19 concerns", June 2020
- Crichton, M., Evans, H., "Trade secret protection: Global perspectives", May 2020
- Crichton, M., Harris, G., Evans, H., Gizatullina, E., Liang, I., "Lifecycle of a smart idea: To patent or keep secret?", May 2020
- Crichton, M., Gloor, A., Dong, C., "Canadian patent law: 2019 year in review", February 2020
- Crichton, M., Boyer, W., "Trade secret enforcement in Canada: How rights holders can secure justice", January 2019
- Crichton, M., Gloor, A., "Canadian patent law: 2018 year in review", January 2019
- Crichton, M., Hackett, B., Stainsby, J., Wojtyra, U., "Panel 1: Top 10 Patent Cases of the Year", Seventh Annual University of Toronto Patent Colloquium, Toronto, Ontario, November 2018
- Crichton, M., Caron, S., Estabrooks, M., Foster, W., Meagher, C., O'Neill, M., Thistle, J., "A First reading of Bill C-86 introduces a number of amendments to the Patent Act, Copyright Act and Trademarks Act", November 2018
- Moderator for "Mock License Negotiation," Licensing Executives Society International 2018 Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, May 2018
- Crichton, M., Carter, A., "Post-grant patent validity challenges in Canada and the UK," May 2018
- Crichton, M., "Top 10 differences in patent litigation in Canada and the U.S.," January 2018
- Crichton, M., Gloor, A., "Canadian patent law: 2017 year in review," January 2018
- Crichton, M., Kuzma, K., Assaf, D., "Panel 3: Patents and the Competition Bureau: The New IP Enforcement Guidelines", Sixth Annual University of Toronto Patent Colloquium, Toronto, Ontario, November 2017
- Crichton, M., Van Barr, C., Sulan, T., "Using third party litigation funding to control cost and risk, and enhance access to justice," Gowling WLG Risk to Reward Seminar, Ottawa, Ontario, October 2017
- Crichton, M., Crandall, M., "R.I.P. consent protective orders," October 2017
- Crichton, M., Anthony, D., "Exploring the Impact of Google v. Equustek," Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (webinar), July 2017
- Crichton, M., Crandall, M., "$644 million patent infringement judgment is largest in Canadian history," July 2017
- Crichton, M., Ripley, R., "Supreme Court of Canada upholds global injunction for IP infringement," July 2017
- Crichton, M., Carter, A. "Patent exhaustion in Canada and the UK," June 2017
- Crichton, M., "'High stakes' patent action turned 'damp squib'," January 2017
- Crichton, M., Gloor, A., "Canadian patent law: 2016 year in review," January 2017
- Moderator for "Welcome to Canada: an untapped venue for patent enforcement?", Licensing Executives Society 2016 Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, October 2016
- Crichton, M., Tsou, V., "Changes to the profession: Patent and trademark agent privilege and a new governance framework," July 2016
- Moderator for Licensing Executives Society International - 2nd Pan-American Young Members Congress, "Best Practices: US/Canadian/Mexican/European IP Litigation Strategies, Tips, Pitfalls, and Ethical Considerations", Ottawa, Ontario, June 2016
- Crichton, M., Sulan, T., Loewith, N., "Third Party Litigation Funding for Commercial Claims," Ontario Bar Association & Canadian Bar Association, Ottawa, Ontario (live & webinar), May 2016
- Crichton, M., Sprigings, M., "Intellectual property defence strategies," Gowling WLG Risk to Reward Seminar, Ottawa, Ontario, May 2016
- Crichton, M., Ripley, R., "Crowded prior art and narrow drawings lead to non-infringement of industrial design," May 2016
- Crichton, M., Baril, F., "PAEs and SEPs: when is patent enforcement anti-competitive?" April 2016
- Crichton, M., Savoy, M., "Don't fret over threats of proceedings for IP infringement," Managing IP, January 2016
- Crichton, M., Maravei, D., "A Discussion on the Law of Privilege and the Implications of Extending Privilege to Agents," Law Society of Upper Canada IP Year-in-Review, Ottawa, Ontario, January 2016
- Crichton, M., "Unified Patent Court - A View from Abroad," Gowling WLG Annual Patents Seminar, London, UK, January 2016
- Crichton, M., "Canadian patent law: 2015 year in review," January 2016
- Crichton, M., Bailey, T., Polonenko, D., "So your company just received a cease and desist letter… (Parts 1 and 2)," December 2015
- Crichton, M., Sartorio, K., "TPP treaty: potential changes to Canadian copyright and trade secret laws," November 2015
- Crichton, M., Boyer, W., "Federal Court of Appeal Comments on standard of review and expert evidence in patent infringement action," September 2015
- Moderator for Licensing Executives Society International - 1st Pan-American Young Members Congress, "Best and Ethical Practices for Licensing from the Inside Out: A panel discussion featuring professionals from private practice and in-house," Chicago, Illinois, September 2015
- Crichton, M., Murphy, K., "Federal Court introduces new measures to streamline IP litigation," June 2015
- Crichton, M., Elmer, M., Gramenopoulos, G., Jang, S., "Patent Litigation: Global Trends and Strategies," Licensing Executives Society 2015 Spring Meeting, La Jolla, California, May 2015
- Crichton, M., Cashin, P., "Industrial design protection in Canada: Court of Appeal confirms broad scope of protection," May 2015
- Crichton, M., "The Rules on Recovering Costs," Managing IP, March 2015
- Crichton, M., Aylen, D., Elmer, M., Anand, P., Goulart, J., van Rijckevorsel, G., "Global Patent Litigation: How and Where to Win," Bloomberg BNA Webinar, March 2015
- Crichton, M., "Canadian patent law: 2014 year in review," February 2015
- Crichton, M., "How to Legally Protect Your Valuable Secrets and Enforce Your Intellectual Property Rights," International Conference on Corporate Espionage 2014, Gatineau, Quebec, December 2014
- Crichton, M. and Murphy, K., "Permanent injunction granted despite patentee not having a product that practiced the claims of the patent," American Bar Association, International IP Legal Updates, June September 2014
- Crichton, M., "Global Patent Litigation: How and where to win" (Chapter 14: Canada), April 2014
- Crichton, M. and Boyer, W., "Experimental Testing in Patent Actions: Federal Court Issues Notice to the Profession," April 2014
- Crichton, M. and Van Barr, C., "Patents year in review 2013," February 2014
- Crichton, M., "Court Grants Largest Patent Infringement Damages Award in Canadian History," July 2013
- Crichton, M. and Van Barr, C., "Patents Year in Review 2012," February 2013
- Moderator for Licensing Executives Society (Ottawa Chapter) and Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (Ottawa Informals) World IP Day Panel, "Striking a New Balance: Copyright Exceptions under Bill C-11," Ottawa, Ontario, April 2012
- Moderator for Intellectual Property Institute of Canada Webinar, "The Amazon Decision," Ottawa, Ontario, December 2011
- Crichton, M., Pollack, J., and Massam, L., "Protecting Your Intellectual Property in the Cloud," Lexpert, "Cloud Computing: A Practical Approach" conference, Toronto, Ontario, December 2011
- Crichton, M. and Tangri, T., "Summary Trials of IP Cases Gaining Traction in the Federal Court of Canada," November 2011
- Crichton, M., "Intellectual Property in Business Transactions," PLC Cross-border IP in Business Transactions Handbook 2011/12, April 2011
- Crichton, M. and Van Barr, C., "Key Developments in Canadian Patent Law 2010," January 2011
- Crichton, M. and Murphy, K., "Obviously Different: Technological Divergences and the Spectrum of Obviousness," November 2010
- Crichton, M., "Canada Adopts the Anticipated Profits Approach for Calculating a Reasonable Royalty Rate," June 2009