Cease-and-desist letter

A cease-and-desist letter is a letter, email or other form of communications demanding that the recipient refrain from a certain behavior or face legal action. Some types of behavior that may prompt such letters include:

* Copyright infringement, trademark infringement or patent infringement, and * defamation.

In the case of copyright, trademark or patent infringement, and defamation, the letter typically threatens a civil lawsuit if the recipient continues the undesired activity. It is similar in form, although not in function, to a demand letter, which alerts the recipient to a pending claim for money damages, usually as a result of a tort] or a [[breach of contract.

In the United States, a recipient of a cease-and-desist letter who is placed in a "reasonable apprehension" of litigation may respond through a request for declaratory judgment proceeding in his own jurisdiction.