Professionals

Practice Areas

Honors

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 2008
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2002
  • U.S. District Court, Central and Northern Districts of Illinois, 2002
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2000
  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, 1999
  • State of Connecticut, 1999
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1991
  • State of New York, 1991
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 1990
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, 1990
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1990

Education

Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., 1990

University of Minnesota, B.A., Biology, 1985

Teaching Positions

  • Adjunct Professor, Western New England University School of Law, Copyright Law
Photo of Michael J. Rye

Michael J. Rye

Partner and Co-Chair of the Litigation Practice
Hartford
860.286.2929, ext. 1128
Email

Michael Rye is a trial lawyer of more than 20 years’ experience whose varied intellectual property litigation practice runs the gamut of litigation from injunction hearings through appeal for domestic and international clients in a wide variety of industries, which often involve complex technologies. Mike’s client-oriented case management style is practical and productive. His command of the legal process involves understanding the written rules and procedures as well as the unwritten rules. He has a proven ability to solve complex legal problems through strategic planning and preparation. Mike’s practice emphasizes patent litigation, but often involves trademark, trade dress, copyright, trade secrets, unfair competition, false advertising, licensing, and other related commercial and business litigation. Mike has acted as lead litigation counsel in courts throughout the United States, including multi-district litigation and numerous Federal District courts. He co-chairs Cantor Colburn's Litigation Practice Group.

Experience Highlights

Partner, Cantor Colburn LLP, 2002-present

Associate, Cantor Colburn LLP, 1997-2002

Associate, Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy, PC, Springfield, MA, 1990-1997

Representative Matters

  • OFS Fitel LLC et al (Dist. CT) Represented a leading manufacturer of optical fibre in a complex patent infringement suit involving more than ten patents. After considerable discovery, we were able to negotiate a substantial settlement.
  • FARO v. Brainlabs (Dist. CT)  Represented inventor of surgical digital positioning devices. Negotiated successful licensing program with Brainlabs and other industry leaders after discovery conducted.
  • Siemon Company v. Krone, Inc.  (Dist. CT)  Represented a telecommunications connector manufacturer in the successful prosecution of a patent infringement lawsuit related to suppression of electrical cross-talk in connectors. Mike obtained summary judgment of infringement resulting in a favorable settlement.
  • Imonex v. Greenwald Industries (E.D. TX) Represented a manufacturer of coin sorters in patent infringement defense in Eastern District of Texas with alleged multi-million dollar damages, resulting in dismissal of case and license of accused patents with nominal payment.
  • Aearo Company and Cabot Safety Intermediate Corporation v. Apothecary Products, Inc. (S. D. IN)  Represented trade dress owner of “pillow pack” packaging in infringement litigation and defense of cancellation action based upon alleged functionality of mark. We ultimately obtained a favorable license and dismissal of the cancellation action.
  • Kaman Music Corporation v. Gibson Guitar Corporation (Dist. CT)  Represented plaintiff in preliminary injunction motion and litigation asserting trademark infringement for defendant’s use of the “LP” mark. The case resulted in an agreement to discontinue the offending use.
  • Thomas & Betts Corp. v. Siemon Company  (W.D. TN)  Represented a telecommunications connector manufacturer in the successful defense of a patent infringement lawsuit relating to printed circuit board designs with asserted damages in the millions of dollars. Our aggressive invalidity defense resulted in license of accused patents with nominal payment.
  • B.A.S. Industries, LLC v. Indian Industries, Inc., (Dist. CT)  Represented a distributor of table tennis equipment in litigation against the owner of the registered trademark “ping pong”. We filed a cancellation action based upon the asserted generic status of the mark. The case resulted in a favorable settlement for our client.

Publications

News

Events

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

  • Member, Intellectual Property Section
  • Member, Litigation Section

American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association

Connecticut Intellectual Property Lawyers Association, Past President

Hampden County Bar Association

Intellectual Property Owners Association

Massachusetts Bar Association