Cease
and Desist Letter
Dear [name of infringer]
It has come to my attention that
you have made an unauthorized use of my copyrighted work entitled [name
of work] (the "Work") in the preparation of a work derived
therefrom. I have reserved all rights in the Work, which was
first published in 1999 on http://www.mycompany.com, and I
have registered the copyright.
Your work entitled [name
of infringing work] and which appears on your web site
at http://www.yourinfringing.com, is essentially identical
to the Work and clearly used the Work as its basis. [Give
few examples that illustrate direct copying and/or unfair use.]
You neither asked for nor received
permission to use the Work as the basis for [name of infringing
work] nor to make or distribute copies of it. Therefore,
I believe you have willfully infringed my rights under 17 USC §101,
et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages as high as
$100,000.
I demand that you immediately
cease the use and distribution of all infringing works derived
from the Work, and all copies of it, and that you deliver to
me all unused, undistributed copies of it, or destroy such
copies immediately, and that you desist from this or any other
infringement of my rights in the future. If I have not received
an affirmative response from you by [date] indicating
that you have fully complied with these requirements, I shall
consider taking the full legal remedies available to rectify
this situation.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
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