Headshot image of Mark Cantor

Mark A. Cantor

Chairman Emeritus & General Counsel

Michigan

(248) 358-4400

  • Overview
  • Representative Matters
  • Background
  • Featured Content
  • Insights
“I have been very successful in resolving most IP disputes without the need for extensive litigation. At the end of the day, legitimate business considerations are what is of paramount importance. I also create tailored and strategic plans for my clients to help them reach their IP goals and business interests.”

Industries

  • Automotive
  • Chemistry
  • Life-Science & Medical Device
Mark Cantor specializes in trademark litigation and has tried various cases involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights.

Mark is one of the founders of the firm and has been with the firm as a Shareholder since 1983. He has over 35 years of IP litigation experience. He has extensive experience in dealing with complex litigation matters in all technology areas and has tried cases relating to patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights in state and federal courts and administrative tribunals throughout the country and in a number of international forums.

Mark takes a special interest in his client’s IP goals by understanding how their strategies align with their business interests. He creates tailored strategies by understanding the commercial realities and working on a plan of action that is cost-effective but still provides an enforceable competitive edge for the client.

Mark is specifically recognized for his trademark litigation practice. Due to his success in this field, several of Brooks Kushman’s largest clients look to Mark for trademark enforcement matters. He has also been recognized by many of the industry’s leading publications for his in-court victories, including obtaining the largest trademark jury verdict in Michigan history.

Mark has handled inter partes administrative proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the International Trade Commission. Mark has been extremely active in a number of cases involving insurance coverage in intellectual property cases, to try and reduce the cost of litigation to the client.

In addition to specializing in IP litigation, Mark also has a particular skill for negotiating business focused resolutions. Mark has a knack for developing creative solutions to resolve seemingly intractable disputes by fashioning a settlement based on business realities.

Additionally, Mark has an active practice advising clients on the acquisition, management and licensing of intellectual property. He has worked with many clients to develop a management strategy to enable clients to accurately and efficiently manage and monetize their intellectual property portfolios.

Mark served as President of the firm from 2007-2018. He has also served as General Counsel of the firm for over two decades and continues in that role today.

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

Terex South Dakota, Inc. et al v. Sinoboom North America, LLC – (Preliminary Injunction and Consent Permanent Injunction – S.D. Texas) – Represented Terex Corporation in a trademark infringement matter regarding the sale of BLUE mobile elevating work platforms (“MEWPs”). After learning of a Chinese manufacturer attempting to enter the U.S. market, Marc filed a lawsuit and preliminary injunction motion to stop defendant’s sale of Blue MEWPs. The Court granted a preliminary injunction in favor of plaintiff’s motion and halted the sale and use of Sinoboom’s BLUE MEWPs. The case shortly settled in favor of our client, Terex Corporation. This decision is the only preliminary injunction decision involving a product

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

Innovation Ventures, LLC d/b/a Living Essentials, v. N.V.E., Inc. (Jury Trial – E.D. Michigan): Represented Plaintiff Living Essentials in trademark infringement action involving plaintiff’s 5-Hour ENERGY trademark. The jury found that Defendant N.V.E.’s sale of a competing product named “6 Hour Power” infringed Plaintiff’s trademark and awarded $10.6 million in damages. The jury also awarded an additional $11.5 million in disgorgement of N.V.E.’s profits and fully rejected N.V.E.’s $60 million false advertising claim. Case No: 4:08-cv-11867

Ancora Techs. v. Apple, Inc. 744 F.3d 732 (Fed. Cir. 2014)

Living Essentials v. NVE, 694 F.3d 723 (6th Cir. 2012)

Hochstein v. Microsoft Corp., 430 Fed. Appx. 898 (Fed. Cir, 2011)

Sunbeam Products, Inc, v. HoMedics, Inc. 412 Fed. Appx. 263 (Fed. Cir. 2010)

OnStar, LLC v. Micral, Inc., 2010 WL 3420340 (N.D.Ohio 2010)

P&M Services v. Gubb, 372 Fed, Appx. 613 (6th Cir. 2010)

Armament Systems & Procedures, Inc. v, IQ H.K., Ltd. 328 Fed. Appx. 625 (Fed. Cir. 2008)

Gubb v. P&M Services, 267 Fed. Appx. 956 (Fed. Cir. 2008)

General Motors Corp. v. Lanard Toys, Inc., 468 F.3d 405 (6th Cir. 2006)

General Motors Corp. v. The Wildside, 133 Fed. Appx. 106 (6th Cir. 2004)

Cincinnati Ins. Co. v. Zen Design Group, Ltd., 329 F.3d 546 (6th Cir. 2003)

Therma-Scan, Inc. v. Thermoscan, Inc., 295 F.3d 623 (6th Cir. 2002)

Therma-Scan, Inc. v. Thermoscan, Inc., 217 F.3d 414 (6th Cir. 2000)

STX, LLC v. Brine, Inc., 211 F.3d 588 (Fed. Cir. 2000)

K`Arsan Corp. v. Christian Dior Perfumes, Inc., 1998 U.S. App. Lexis 27658 (6th Cir. 1998)

Advance Watch Co. v. Kemper Nat`l Ins. Co., 99 F.3d 795 (6th Cir. 1996)

J. Thomas Distributors v. Greenline Distributors,41 U.S.P.Q.2d 1382 (6th Cir, 1996)

Parameter Driven Software v. Mass Bay Ins. Co., 25 F.3d 332 (6th Cir. 1994)

Janda v. Riley-Meggs Industries, Inc. 764 F. Supp. 1223 (E.D. Mich. 1991)

Lear Siegler, Inc. v. Sealy Mattress Co., 873 F.2d 1422 (Fed. Cir. 1989)

Glasstech, Inc. v. Ab Kyro Oy, 769 F.2d 1574 (Fed. Cir. 1985)

Education

J.D., University of Detroit Mercy, cum laude

M.S., Civil Engineering, University of Michigan

B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Michigan

Organizations & Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

American Bar Association

Federal Bar Association Eastern District of Michigan Chapter

Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association

Intellectual Property Owner Association

Recognitions

“Leading Lawyer,” Leading Lawyer Magazine, 2014-2019

Lawyer of the Year, Patent Law, Best Lawyers, 2019

“World Trademark Review 1000 Recommended Individual,” Intellectual Asset Management, 2015-2019

“IAM Patent 1000 Recommended individual,” Intellectual Asset Management, 2014 – 2018

Best Lawyers in America, 2009-2023

“IP Star”, Managing Intellectual Property, 2013-2022

“500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Metro Detroit”, DBusiness, 2018-2021

“Leader in the Law”, Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2017

Michigan Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2007-2023

“Top Lawyer,” DBusiness Magazine, 2009-2021

“10 Power Lawyers in Michigan,” Crain’s Detroit Business, 2009

Industries

  • Automotive
  • Chemistry
  • Life-Science & Medical Device

Presentations

Speaker, “When Does It Make Sense to Litigate?,” Managing Intellectual Property Global Trademark Roadshow 2018, March 2018

Speaker, “Intellectual property Panel,” Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, November 2013

Speaker, Trade Secret Litigation,” Intellectual Property Spring Seminar, 2006

Speaker, “Trademark and Trade Dress Fundamentals,” on behalf of Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association to member of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 2006

 

Publications

Author, “What’s Next for Software Patents,” Xology Magazine, January 2015

Author, “What a Patentee Must do to Prove Infringement and Damages of a Method Claim for Computer Software,” Michigan Computer Lawyer, 2001

Insights

Press Releases

Six Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named To 2023 Super Lawyers; One Attorney Honored As Rising Star

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Five Brooks Kushman Attorneys Ranked As 2024 Best Lawyers; Frank Angileri Recognized As 2024 Lawyer of the Year

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Brooks Kushman Recognized In The Top Tier Of IP Firms In The Country By Managing IP; Seven Shareholders Named “IP Stars”

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Press Releases

Nine Brooks Kushman Attorneys Recognized In Best Lawyers

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Brooks Kushman Shareholder Recognized as one of the 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Detroit

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Brooks Kushman Named One of Metro Detroit’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For

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Eight Brooks Kushman Shareholders Named To 2021 Top Lawyers List

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Press Releases

A Heartfelt Tribute to Brooks Kushman Attorney George Mosher, Jr.

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Ten Brooks Kushman Shareholders Named To 2020 Top Lawyers List

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Brooks Kushman Shareholder Recognized as one of the 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Detroit

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Press Releases

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

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Press Releases

Nine Brooks Kushman Attorneys Ranked As 2020 Best Lawyer; Two Attorneys Recognized As 2020 Lawyer Of The Year

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Appoints Ben Harel As Chief Information Officer

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized as 2018 Top Workplace By Detroit Free Press

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

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Welcomes Detroit Cristo Rey Students

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Brooks Kushman President Recognized as One of the 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Detroit

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Nine Brooks Kushman Attorneys Ranked As Best Lawyer; Two Attorneys Recognized as Lawyer of the Year

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized as Gold-Standard Firm By IAM Annual Patent 1000; Six Attorneys Recognized as Top Practioners

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Presentations

Brooks Kushman President to Speak at the Managing Intellectual Property Trademark Roadshow in Los Angeles

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized as 2017 Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Ranked In The 2018 Best Law Firms List; Nine Attorneys Ranked As Best Lawyer

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Press Releases

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

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Press Releases

Nine Brooks Kushman Attorneys Ranked as 2018 Best Lawyers

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Named One of Metro Detroit’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For

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Press Releases

2017 Corporate Partner of the Year by Judson Center

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Client Alerts

Supreme Court Strikes Down Lanham Act’s Prohibition of Registration of Disparaging Trademarks

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Press Releases

Gold in IAM Annual Patent 1000

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Press Releases

2017 Chambers USA Top Intellectual Property Firms

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Press Releases

Six Shareholders Named “IP Stars” By Managing IP

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Press Releases

Ranked As One Of The “Top 20 Firms” By Juristat

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Press Releases

5-hour ENERGY® Named “Top Verdicts of 2016”

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Client Alerts

Supreme Court Expands Copyright Protection

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Appoints Principal Lissi Mojica as 2017 Leadership Council On Legal Diversity Fellow; Associate LeKeisha Suggs Appointed as a Participant in the Pathfinder Program

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman President Honored As A 2017 Leader in the Law

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Earns Gold Honors In World Trademark Review 1000 Listing

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Press Releases

Five Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named To 2017 Top Lawyers List

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Ranked in the 2017 Best Law Firms List; Eight Attorneys Ranked as Best Lawyers

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Further Expands Los Angeles Office; Hires David A. Randall as Shareholder

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Hires Prominent IP Professional; Opens Washington D.C. Office

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Press Releases

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

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Press Releases

Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Congratulates 7 Attorneys Named as 2017 Best Lawyers In America

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized as Gold-Standard Firm in Patent 1000 Listing for Third Consecutive Year

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Attorneys Named “IP Stars” by Managing IP

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Named Among the Top 100 Patent Firms in the United States

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized as a 2015 Top Workplace

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Eleven Brooks Kushman Attorneys Named Top Lawyers

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Brooks Kushman Dedicates Portion of October Billings to National Breast Cancer Foundation

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Press Releases

Fifteen Brooks Kushman Attorneys Named 2015 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

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Blog

Sixth Circuit Tackles “Metaphysical Quandary” Of Design Separability: Rules That Cheerleader Uniform Graphics Are Protected By Copyright

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Named One of Metro Detroit’s 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For

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Press Releases

Five Brooks Kushman Attorneys Recognized as 2016 Best Lawyers in America

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman President Discusses Patent Litigation in Crain’s Detroit Business

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Media Coverage

Shake Shack Seeks Patent on use of Metro Detroit Chicken Shack’s Name

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Attorneys Named “IP Stars” by Managing IP

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Publications

Brooks Kushman President Featured in X-ology Magazine

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman President Featured in Crain’s Detroit Business

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized as a 2014 Top Workplaces National Standard Employer

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Client Alerts

Courts Applying Gunn v. Minton Must Distinguish – Forward-Looking – From – Backward-Looking – Patent Issues

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a 2014 “Best Law Firm”; Five Shareholders Named as “Best Lawyers”

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Blog

Federal Circuit Signals Trend To Reassert Jurisdiction Over Patent-Related State Law Actions

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Press Releases

Sixteen Brooks Kushman Attorneys Named 2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

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Media Coverage

Five Brooks Kushman Attorneys Recognized as 2015 Best Lawyers in America ®

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized as Leader in Patent Prosecution and IP Litigation in BTI`s IP Outlook Report

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman Earns Gold Honors in Patent 1000 Listing

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Brooks Kushman, four attorneys named ‘IP Stars’ by Managing IP

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman, four attorneys named ‘IP Stars’ by Managing IP

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Continues to Expand IP Depth with the Addition of Two Attorneys

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Expands Patent Prosecution Team with the Addition of Isaac Slutsky

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Brooks Kushman Hires Four Associates as Patent Prosecution and Litigation Practices Grow

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Announced as Gleaners July Volunteer Super Group of the Month

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Named 2013 Michigan Top Workplaces National Standard Winner

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Press Releases

Four Brooks Kushman Attorneys Recognized as “2014 Top Lawyers”

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Media Coverage

Four Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named to 2013 Super Lawyers List; Ten Attorneys Honored as Rising Stars

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Press Releases

Four Brooks Kushman Shareholders Named 2013 Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Supports Challenge Detroit Effort

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman’s Cantor and Angileri Recognized as 2014 “Best Lawyers in America”

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman’s Cantor and Angileri Recognized as 2014 “Best Lawyers in America”

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Publishes Sixth Edition of Intellectual Property Primer Covering the Latest Changes in the IP Landscape

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Expands Open Sourcing Compliance Offering with Formalized Team, Outreach Efforts

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Media Coverage

Legal News Articles Discuss Brooks Kushman’s 30 Years of Success

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman Recognized as Largest IP Law Firm in Michigan

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Recognized as a Top National IP Law Firm in the 19th edition of Best Lawyers in America; Shareholders Mark Cantor and Frank Angileri Ranked as “Best Lawyers”

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman Ranked Among Law360’s Largest Intellectual Property Practices

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Media Coverage

Cantor Offers Insight on the Recent Supreme Court Decision of Microsoft v i4i and the Impact to IP Litigation

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman President Weighs in on a Detroit-based Satellite USPTO

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman President Offers Insight on the Growth of IP Law

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Media Coverage

Michigan Lawyers Weekly Highlights Mark Cantor’s Legal Career in Patent Law

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman’s Cantor and Angileri Named “Best Lawyers in America”

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Promotes IP Veteran Sparschu to Head of Trademark Group

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Brooks Kushman’s Kramer Honored as a 2010 “Leader in the Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly

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Media Coverage

Brooks Kushman’s Kramer Honored as a 2010 “Leader in the Law” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly

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Media Coverage

Protecting Innovation in America: Brooks Kushman Ranked as a Top IP Firm by Fortune 100 Companies

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Three Brooks Kushman Lawyers Honored as ‘Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit’

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Media Coverage

Three Brooks Kushman Lawyers Honored as ‘Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit’

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Media Coverage

Six Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named to 2009 Super Lawyers List; Two Up-and-Coming Lawyers Named Rising Stars

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman Lawyers Cantor and Angileri Recognized Among 2009 Best Lawyers in America

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman’s Mark Cantor Honored as a “Power Lawyer” by Crain’s Detroit Business

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman’s Mark Cantor Honored as a “Power Lawyer” by Crain’s Detroit Business

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Press Releases

Six Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named to 2008 Super Lawyers List; Five Up-and-Coming Attorneys Named Rising Stars

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Press Releases

NorthPole Companies Secure Summary Judgment Against Bravo Sports, Inc.

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Press Releases

Brooks Kushman P.C. Law Firm Appoints New Leadership

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Presentations

Trade Secret Litigation

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Presentations

Trademark and Trade Dress Fundamentals

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Publications

What a Patentee Must Do to Prove Infringement and Damages of a Method Claim for Computer Software

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