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    Hi,

    I'm Jean-François.

     

    Meet Jean-François Joly. As registered patent agent, Jean-François specializes in patent drafting and prosecution, but also more generally in IP strategy and management. His clients include SMEs, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and multinational corporations.

    Working with many clients as a strategic advisor and patent agent, Jean-François shares his enthusiasm for not only how IP strategy can serve business strategy, but also how to best protect innovations. He works with clients to align their IP policy with overall business goals and ensure the strategy is a core driver of their operational success.

    Areas of Expertise:

    • Patent drafting and prosecution
    • IP strategy and management
    • Open source software reviews

    Professional Role:

    As Patent Agent at Stratford, Jean-François is part of a team of experts delivering end-to-end IP strategy and management, including patent drafting and prosecution. He leans in as trusted strategic advisors to their clients.

    Advocacy and Education:

    As an advocate for IP literacy, Jean-François prioritizes sharing his expertise through speaking engagements, content creation, and mentorship. He has been involved in giving IP awareness development sessions through Government of Canada funded programs and as a guest lecturer at the University of Ottawa.

    Jean-Francois Joly

    Jean-Francois Joly, Patent Agent,

    Stratford Intellectual Property

    "We are extremely pleased with the proactive approach the team at Stratford Intellectual Property has taken to handling our IP portfolio. Their deep understanding of the nuances of a comprehensive intellectual property strategy have been instrumental in positioning us for success."

    Philippe St-Jean, Nord Quantique

    An Interview

    with Jean-Francois.

    Beyond our credentials, what sets us apart are the values we share and the ways we work. Every member of our team has a passion for giving back and helping organizations reach their goals. It’s why clients often tell us that when they met our people, they knew they wanted to do business with us.

     

    To help you get to know us a little better, we sat down with some of our team members and interviewed them on everything from professional experience and obstacles to extracurricular activities and playlist recommendations. We thought you may appreciate seeing the personal side of our team through their shared personal insights, recommendations and hobbies.

    In your mind, what makes Stratford unique? 

    One of the attributes that I think sets Stratford apart is its diverse combination of expertise, which encompasses a wide range of professional backgrounds, skills, and knowledge bases. It is what enables us to tackle a variety of challenges with innovative solutions. This range of expertise ensures that we can meet the specific needs of each client with precision and creativity.

     

    What is your favourite part of your job or type of client engagement?

     Working on big patent drafting projects.

     

    What initially drew you to your role at Stratford?

    What drew me to Stratford was the chance to engage in a variety of roles, from patent drafting and prosecution to leading client interactions and developing IP strategies. It's our dynamic and holistic approach to IP that makes working at Stratford both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

     

    What do you hope your clients take away from working with you/Stratford?

    That IP matters.

     

    What is your proudest professional accomplishment so far?

    I am most proud of passing the patent agent exams (They are notoriously difficult - the global pass rate for the Canadian Patent Agent exams typically falls between 20-37% in a given year).

     

    What is a word or phrase that your client and/or colleagues would use to describe you?

    I hope they would describe me as "helpful".

     

    A quote that motivates you:

    "Perfect is the enemy of good." (I'm pretty sure the earliest version of this sentiment has been attributed to Voltaire.)

     

    What is your favourite way to give back to your community?

    Sharing my knowledge and expertise with my coworkers as much as I can.

     

    What was your first job?

    A paperboy.

     

    What did you go to school for? How relevant is it to your current role?

    I have a bachelor, master’s and PhD in Physics. This background gives me the ability to understand highly technical information more generally and prepared me to read/study long, complicated patent references.

     

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