Home | Site Index | Disclaimer | Email Me!

Tabberone Logo

Sample Cease and Desist Letter
Dear Ms. Doe:

We are writing to you on behalf of our clients, XYZ Comapny ("XYZ"). XYZ owns numerous trademarks and service marks, including, but not limited to, item #1, item #2, and item #3, (collectively referred to as the "XYZ Marks"). The XYZ Marks possess significant goodwill, are of great value to XYZ and are the subject of numerous trademark registrations.

The XYZ Marks have been used for many years in connection with promotion of XYZ services and as part of an extensive licensing program on a wide variety of merchandise relating to and promoting XYZ. As a result, the XYZ Marks are known throughout the world as identifying XYZ and it's products.

In order to protect and enhance the value of the XYZ Marks, XYZ grants limited licenses to select manufacturers to produce merchandise (including aprons, pillows, placemats, etc.) authorized to bear the XYZ Marks. These licensed manufacturers are held to specific manufacturing standards and guidelines subject to approval by XYZ. Licensed manufacturers are permitted to distribute licensed products bearing the XYZ Marks only through certain distribution channels in order to preserve the value of the licensed products and to maintain the integrity and image of the XYZ Marks.

It has recently come to our attention that you are engaging in the offering for sale and sale of unauthorized products bearing XYZ Marks. XYZ understands that you have offered for sale and sold through the on-line auction site ebay.com fabric items that feature the trademarks and copyrights of XYZ without the relevant consents having first been obtained from XYZ. Your use of the XYZ Marks on unlicensed merchandise is likely to confuse consumers into believing that you have a direct relationship with, are affiliated with, associated with, or endorsed by XYZ. Further, your sale and offering for sale of such unlicensed products constitutes trademark infringement, unfair competition and dilution in violation of federal and state statutes and the common law.

XYZ demands that you immediately cease and desist from offering for sale, selling, advertising, marketing and/or promoting any unauthorized products bearing XYZ Marks. We also demand that you fully disclose in writing the extent of your sales of this infringing merchandise, including the number of goods sold and the prices at which they were sold, the remaining inventory of the infringing merchandise, as well as the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the manufacturer(s) and/or supplier(s) of such merchandise, and any other information regarding your unauthorized use of the XYZ Marks. We ask that we receive written assurance by close of business April 1, 2003 that you will comply with these demands.

We would like to resolve this matter amicably, but in the absence of a favorable, timely response, we are prepared to take all steps necessary to preserve and protect the rights of XYZ without further notice to you.

The statement of facts set forth in this letter is not intended to be, nor shall it be deemed to be, a full and complete statement of the facts in this matter. This letter is not intended to be a complete statement of our rights, and shall not be construed as a waiver of any legal or equitable rights or remedies, all of which are expressly reserved.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write to me at the address set forth on our letterhead. My fax number is (800) 555-1234.

Very truly yours,

Fhat N Overpaid
Dewey, Cheatem & Howe
General Counsel
XYZ Company

It should be noted that the lawyer does not allege, nor offer any proof, that Ms Doe counterfeited any marks or products. Nor does the lawyer allege, or offer any proof, that at any time has Ms Doe claimed the fabric items were licensed products.

 

 

Rebuttals

In an effort to provide a balanced view, we make the following offer to anyone who feels they have been wrongly accused on this web site.

If you, or your company, have been referenced on these pages, and you would like the chance to post a rebuttal, we will post your rebuttal (provided it is in good taste) so others can read it. The rebuttal must be submitted in a format that can easily be converted into HTML. We reserve the right to alter the rebuttal to make it more readable. However, we will not alter the content (unless there is offensive material to be removed). We also reserve the right to comment on any rebuttal received. Emails protesting the content of this web site may be treated as rebuttals by us at our discretion.

We made this offer a very long time ago and as of September 2008, only AnimieHot.com, in our Hall Of Shame, and Charlotte Perman (Sevenarts in our Hall Of Shame) have chosen to submit a formal rebuttal.

General
Articles | Cease and Desist Letters | Federal Court Cases | FAQs & Whines | Hall Of Shame | Contributions

Corporate Lawyers
Cartoons | Code Of Ethics | Courtroom Remarks | Defintion Of A Lie | Jokes | Lawyers | Lying | Who Have Lied

eBay - Land The Game

Links
Auction Bytes | Digg.com | Slashdot.org | Public Citizen Litigation Group | RealityBasedCommunity.net

Definitions

Trademark Definitions
Blurring   |   Confusion   |   Dilution   |   Initial Interest Confusion   |   Likelihood Of Confusion   |   Material Difference Standard   |   Parallel Imports   |   Puffery
Secondary Meaning   |   Subsequent Confusion   |   Trademark Abuse   |   Unauthorized Use   |   Unfair Competition   |   What is a Trademark?
Copyright Definitions
Contributory Infringement   |   Copyrightability   |   Copyright Misuse Doctrine   |   Derivative   |   The Digital Millenium Copyright Act
EULA   |   Fair Use   |   First Sale Doctrine   |   Registration   |   What is a Copyright?   |   What is not Copyrightable?
Other Issues
Ebroidery Designs   |   FAQs & Whines   |   Image and Text Theft   |   Licensed Fabric   |   Licensing & Licenses   |   Patterns   |   Profit   |   Selvage
Stanford School of Law Case Outline   |   Tabberone Disclaimer   |   Trademark Extortion   |   Urban Myths   |   What To Do If You Are Veroed

Federal Statutes
Copyright Act 17 U.S.C. 5 | Digital Millenium Copyright Act 17 U.S.C. 12 | Lanham Act 15 U.S.C. 22

Filing A Federal Lawsuit
Set Up | Complaint | Answer | Reply | FRCP12(b) | FRCP12(f) | Default | SummaryJudgment | Affidavit

VeRO (Verified Right's Owner Program)
VeRO Commandments | VeRO-Verified Rights Owners Program | Counter Notice Letter
Counter Notice (pre-2003) | Counter Notice present | On-Line Survey from 2004 | Articles about VeRO | What To Do If You Are Veroed