The person receiving the cease and desist letter can ignore it; it isn't legally binding. But it's often sent before taking the drastic step of filing a lawsuit. Anyone can send cease and desist letters.
Receiving a cease and desist letter is a serious issue. It indicates the sender's intention to pursue you for the alleged wrongdoing if you do not follow their demands. Receiving a cease and desist letter does not necessarily mean you will end up in Court.
The term cease and desist is a legal term either used by lawyers, which normally relates to preparing a letter written for a client at an early stage of a dispute, or a cease and desist court order. Cease simply means stop and desist means do not repeat the legally unlawful activity again in the future.
When drafting a cease and desist letter, you have several options. The most recommended approach is to work with an experienced attorney. Why? Because when a lawyer drafts such a letter, it often holds more weight, signaling to the recipient that you're prepared to take legal action if necessary.
A cease and desist order is an order by an administrative agency that requires certain practices specified to stop. It is used in Labor and Employment Law , Security Law , Education Law , and a lot of other areas of law. Typically, an administrative judge has the discretion to decide over the issuance of the order.
To stop doing something, such as operating a business, because of a legal order or because of the threat of legal action: Canada's Competition Bureau declared the new company "anti-competitive" and ordered it to cease and desist.
If you are writing the letter yourself, you should include the following information: Your name and contact information. Name and contact information of the person or business being asked to stop the behavior. Specifics about the activity you wish them to stop.
Whether you are experiencing harassment or infringement of your copyright, sending a cease-and-desist letter is an option available to you. They are relatively simple to write up and you don't even need an attorney to serve them.