Professor David Vaver is a Member of IP Osgoode’s Advisory Board and a Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Osgoode Hall Law School.
The Monash University Faculty of Law recently announced the passing of their Juris Doctor Director, Professor Ann Monotti. Prof. Monotti was a leader in intellectual property law and a wonderful person, and is remembered below by our own Prof. David Vaver.
The first reaction Maxine and I had on hearing from Alan the sudden news of Ann’s passing was to say what a lovely person she had been in so many ways and how tragic it was that she left us so early.
We remember Ann not just from her work as a legal scholar and professor of international repute, but as someone who delighted in her husband, children, grandchildren, and her colleagues.
We remember her zest for life, and her love of the arts and of good food and wine — and what enormously great company and fun she was.
I remember her first from the thesis that I examined of hers some decades ago - unlike many, a delight to read, from which I emerged both wiser and better informed. Ann went on of course to develop the work into the standard book she co-authored on the regulation of intellectual property in universities.
I remember our keeping in touch over the years from afar as a wealth of learned articles and books poured out of her office at Monash, making her a leading international authority on intellectual property law, particularly its intersection with employment law.
I remember Ann’s great learning and curiosity, and her modesty in her accomplishments.
I remember particularly one of her pieces on patent law being referred to by judges in the High Court of Australia for its “percipient” remarks and how we joked afterwards about her promotion to the newly minted chair of “percipient professor”.
We remember the stories she told about the travels she and Alan took round the world — Italy, Korea, France, Austria, Britain of course — often mixing business with pleasure and teaching classes or speaking at conferences.
We remember the many delightful meals we shared with her and Alan during a prolonged period we spent in Melbourne, and how she meant to make a tarte tatin from a recipe which Maxine passed on to her — except Ann never got round to it, because each time she bought the pink lady apples recommended for the dish, somehow they kept getting eaten beforehand.
We remember that what pride she had she reserved for her family, and how one evening when, while we were busy imbibing pre-dinner drinks, she was busy knitting a woollen jacket for her new grandson.
And we remember Ann’s smile and ready laugh — those will be with us for ever.