Headshot image of Rebecca Cantor

Rebecca J. Cantor

Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret Litigation, & Trademark Office Proceedings

Michigan

(248) 226-2841

  • Overview
  • Representative Matters
  • Background
  • Featured Content
  • Insights
“I take a business-centered approach to IP protection. In determining the best IP protection strategy for my clients, I consider their business goals and how they can protect and use their IP to achieve those goals.”

Industries

  • Automotive
  • Chemistry
  • Life-Science & Medical Device
Rebecca Cantor is a registered patent attorney with an extensive background in patent litigation as well as trademark protection and enforcement.  

Rebecca serves as the Chair of Brooks Kushman's life science practice group. She concentrates her practice on intellectual property litigation, with a focus on patent litigation involving a wide range of technologies including pharmaceuticals and other life sciences technologies. Rebecca also has experience in trademark disputes, both in Federal Court and in the USPTO. In addition, Rebecca counsels clients in developing strategies to protect their intellectual property.

As a registered patent attorney, Rebecca is authorized to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Rebecca was a patent litigator at Vinson & Elkins LLP in New York. While there, Rebecca participated in several patent litigations, including a Hatch-Waxman litigation where she was part of a trial team that received a favorable outcome for its client. Rebecca also worked on a number of due diligence projects, many of which involved technologies related to life sciences.

Representative District Court/ITC Matters

Kitch LLC v. Deejayzoo, LLC (Jury Trial – C.D. California): A federal jury in Los Angeles cleared beauty brand, Kitsch, represented by Brooks Kushman, from accusations that shower caps it makes infringe a New York designer’s patented design and related trademarks. After about an hour, eight jurors indicated they were siding with Kitsch, which had sued in 2019 seeking a ruling that its products did not infringe a pair of patents and trademark-protected marketing language, owned by a company called Deejayzoo. Only one of the two patents that Deejayzoo put forward made it to trial. Brooks Kushman attorneys also proved that Deejayzoo didn’t have the right to the descriptive slogan Kitsch used and that there was no evidence of confusion.

Mag Automotive LLC V. Gadra Enterprises, Inc. (Summary Judgment – E.D. Michigan): Represented defendant Gadra in a trademark infringement matter relating to a numbering system on automotive equipment parts. Convinced the court that plaintiff did not have any enforceable trademark rights as the asserted trademarks were functional and had no secondary meaning, and the Court granted Summary Judgment for Gadra. Also convinced the Court to deny Plaintiff Mag Automotive’ s motion for Summary Judgment on Gadra’s counterclaims alleging false advertising, business and product disparagement, and tortious interference with business relationships and allow those claims to go to trial. The matter settled before trial. Case No. 2:16-cv-12049

See, Inc., v. See Concept SAS (Settlement – E.D. Michigan): Represented Plaintiff See, Inc. in a trademark, unfair competition, and breach of contract matter regarding eyewear products. Settled favorably just over one year after the complaint was filed. The Court also issued a permanent injunction against the Defendant. Case No. 2-16-cv-13261

Education

J.D., University of Michigan, cum laude

M.S., Pharmaceutical Engineering, University of Michigan

B.S.E, Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, magna cum laude

Organizations & Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

State Bar of New York

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

University of Michigan Law School, Adjunct Professor

Federal Bar Association Eastern District of Michigan Chapter

Recognitions

“World Trademark Review 1000 Recommended Individual,” Intellectual Asset Management, 2022-2024

“Rising Star,” Michigan Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2014-2019

 

Industries

  • Automotive
  • Chemistry
  • Life-Science & Medical Device

Presentations

Co-presenter, “Year In Review: 2019 Intellectual Property Litigation,” BK Webinar, February 2020

Publications

Co-Author, “Chapter 17: Intellectual Property,” Michigan Causes of Action Formbook, March 2020

Co-Author, “Stanford v. Roche: Confirming the Basic Patent Law Principle that Inventors Ultimately Have Rights in Their Inventions,” les Nouvelles, March 2012

Co-Author “The Generalist’s Guide to the America Invents Act,” State Bar of Texas Corporate Counsel Section Newsletter, Winter 2012

Co-Author “A Brief Primer on the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act of 2011,” O’Connor’s Federal Intellectual Property Codes Plus, 2012-2013

“A Safe Harbor for Investigational Drugs in Commission Proceedings: The Commission Declines to Extend the Kinik Rationale to Limit the Section 271(e) Defense in Process Patent Cases,” 23 337 Reporter 119, 2007

Insights

Press Releases

Seven Brooks Kushman Shareholders Recognized as Trademark Leaders; Firm Recognized in World Trademark Review 1000 Listing

Read More

Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Secures Significant Trademark Win at the Fifth Circuit

Read More

Press Releases

Seven Brooks Kushman Shareholders Recognized as Trademark Leaders; Firm Recognized in World Trademark Review 1000 Listing

Read More

Press Releases

Seven Brooks Kushman Shareholders Recognized as Trademark Leaders; Firm Recognized in World Trademark Review 1000 Listing

Read More

Press Releases

Seven Brooks Kushman Shareholders Recognized As Trademark Leaders; Firm Recognized In World Trademark Review 1000 Listing

Read More

Webinar

Year in Review: 2019 Intellectual Property Litigation

Read More

Blog

Supreme Court Rules That USPTO is Barred From Seeking Reimbursement of Legal Fees in Section 145 Appeal

Read More

Press Releases

Six Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named To 2019 Super Lawyers List; Seven Attorneys Honored as Rising Stars

Read More

Press Releases

Twelve Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named To 2018 Super Lawyers List; Eight Attorneys Honored as Rising Stars

Read More

Presentations

Brooks Kushman Attorneys Present at All About STEM! in Partnership With the INTA Unreal Campaign

Read More

Press Releases

Twelve Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named To 2017 Super Lawyers List; Ten Attorneys Honored As Rising Stars

Read More

Press Releases

Eight Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named To 2016 Super Lawyers List; Eight Attorneys Honored As Rising Stars

Read More

Press Releases

Fifteen Brooks Kushman Attorneys Named 2015 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Read More

Press Releases

Sixteen Brooks Kushman Attorneys Named 2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Read More