Matthew J. Becker

Partner

Matt Becker’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, commercial litigation involving complex technologies, and intellectual property analysis and counseling. Mr. Becker’s intellectual property litigation practice predominantly includes patent infringement and trade secret litigation.  His counseling practice focuses on advising clients regarding avoiding third party intellectual property rights in conjunction with product development, conducting patent infringement and validity analyses, and providing strategic advice regarding patent portfolio development.  He is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property, BioMedical and Complex Litigation Practice Groups. 

Mr. Becker has served as lead counsel in significant patent infringement lawsuits, disputes concerning patent inventorship and patent ownership, claims of breach of license agreements, trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract and business torts.  Many of these actions have involved the electrical or chemical arts, including technologies such as electronic components of nuclear detection equipment, embedded computers, brushless DC fans and hard drive motors, and pharmaceutical products.  Other technologies include specialty optical fibers, product packaging, tools and hardware, and various business methods.  His role in these matters has included the development of trial strategy, Markman hearings, jury trials and all aspects of discovery.  Examples of recent matters Mr. Becker has handled include:

• Successful defense to verdict of an international manufacturer of electronic fans and hard drive motors against claims of  infringement of multiple patents covering brushless direct current motors used in computer equipment.
• Defense of a major manufacturer of nuclear detection equipment in a patent infringement action involving a nine-figure damage claim in the U.S. District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee, in which a favorable settlement was obtained at the outset of trial.   
• Representation in multiple patent and commercial actions of a leading manufacturer of electronic environmental monitors which were favorably resolved through settlement and summary judgment.
• Successful procurement of injunctive relief on behalf of a prominent pharmaceutical manufacturer in a trade secret action against a competitor.
• Representation of aerospace corporation in breach of license agreement claim in which a seven figure settlement was obtained.
• Representation of manufacturer of specialty optical fibers in action alleging infringement of ten patents.  Obtained dismissal of claims relating to seven patents, and favorable settlement of remaining claims. 
• Representation a major software manufacturer in a highly publicized business method patent case involving online travel services.
• Defense of  a leading manufacturer of hand tools in patent infringement action in which multiple patents were asserted, and in which all claims were dismissed with prejudice following a successful Markman hearing.
• Representation of a Fortune 500 forest products corporation in multiple patent infringement and trade secret litigation matters and in intellectual property strategic counseling.
• Representation a Fortune 100 corporation in obtaining a multimillion-dollar judgment and permanent injunction after a three-year litigation against a competitor based on the misappropriation and misuse of proprietary drawings and technology.
• Prosecution and defense of various patent infringement lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on behalf of a manufacturer of compact disc labeling equipment and software.
• Defense of a leader in the electronic billing field against patent infringement claims, and negotiation of acquisition of the patent-in-suit.
• Defense of U.S. and German manufacturers of multi-gas analyzers against claims of patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation.

Successful defense of Fortune 500 corporation in patent infringement action involving pneumatic shears. 

Bar & Court Admissions

• Connecticut
• U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Education

• Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, Indiana, 1991 J.D. Honors: Summa Cum Laude.
• Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1988 B.S. Major: Chemistry.

Publications

• Raising the Bar of Patentability, Conneticut Law Tribune, April 21, 2008
• What is Patentable?, IP Law and Business, October 2007

 Interpreting the Entire Market Value Rule, Connecticut Law Tribune Intellectual Property Supplement, July 16, 1999

Expert Testimony After Daubert:  What is Admissible? Environmental Compliance and Litigation Strategy, Vol. 11, No. 7, December 1995

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association, Section of Intellectual Property Law, Federal Practice Committee
• Intellectual Property Owners Association
• Connecticut Intellectual Property Law Association
• Connecticut Bar Association, Section of Intellectual Property Law