Cease and Desist Letter Template

• Someone is using your photos, writing, code, or logo without permission
• A competitor is using a confusingly similar name or mark
• A person is repeatedly contacting or harassing you
• Someone is publishing false statements that damage your reputation or business
• A debt collector is contacting you in violation of the FDCPA
• A party is breaching a contract and continuing to do so

• Your name and the recipient's name and address
• Exactly what conduct you want stopped, with dates and specifics
• The basis for your demand — your copyright, trademark, contract, or the statute involved
• Evidence you can attach: screenshots, URLs, message logs, registration numbers
• A deadline to comply, typically 7 to 14 days
• What you'll do if they don't comply

Specificity is what makes these letters work. "Stop infringing my content" is ignorable; "remove the photograph at this URL, published on this date, which I took on this date" is not.

Avoid threatening criminal prosecution to resolve a civil dispute — depending on the state that can itself be unlawful, and it undermines an otherwise strong letter. Stick to the civil remedies you would actually pursue.

Send it in a way you can prove: certified mail with return receipt, or email with a saved delivery record. If the behavior continues, the dated letter is what shows the other side knew and kept going, which matters for willfulness and damages.

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Easy Legal AI is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or attorney representation. This page and the documents it creates are self-help tools. Laws differ by state and change over time — for a high-value dispute or an unusual situation, have a licensed attorney in your state review the document before you rely on it.