Help me draft a cease and desist letter. I want it firm and clear, not threatening or dramatic — and I want it to be more likely to work than to escalate.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING that I want to stop: {specific_behavior — copying_my_content / using_my_trademark / harassing_me / impersonating_me / unpaid_invoice / etc.}
WHO THEY ARE: {individual / small_business / large_company}
EVIDENCE I HAVE: {screenshots / archive_urls / cease_emails / etc.}
HOW LONG IT'S BEEN HAPPENING: {duration}
WHAT YOU'VE TRIED already: {message / email / public_call-out / nothing}
WHAT YOU WANT them to do (specifically): {stop_using_X / remove_Y_by_date / pay_invoice / public_correction}
WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO ESCALATE TO if ignored: {DMCA / lawsuit / public_post / report_to_platform}
YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THEM: {none / former_employee / former_business_partner / customer}
JURISDICTION (yours): {state_or_country}
WRITE:
1. **Subject line** — clear, specific, no 'URGENT URGENT URGENT'.
2. **Opener** — identifies you, the parties, and that this is a formal demand.
3. **The facts** — what they did, when, with evidence noted (don't attach everything; reference it).
4. **The legal basis** in 1 sentence (copyright, trademark, contract breach, defamation, etc.) — without overclaiming.
5. **The demand** — what they must do, by what date (usually 7-14 days).
6. **The consequence if they don't comply** — specific (not 'we will take all legal action').
7. **A path to resolve quickly** — phone, email, or written response.
8. **Closing** — your contact info, signature.
Tone: firm, specific, calm. Sound like someone who is prepared to follow through, but isn't itching to.
DISCLAIMER: This is a template for negotiation purposes. For formal cease-and-desist letters in active legal disputes, work with a lawyer.0 copies·0 saves·1 views
274 words·1,797 chars
Sample output
Situation: Someone copied your blog posts onto their site, removed your name, and is monetizing them with ads. Identified by Google Alerts. ~6 posts copied verbatim. They're a 1-person SEO content site, not a company. Domain is mediumcopyseo.example. You have screenshots + archive.org snapshots showing both versions. Tried: 1 polite email 3 weeks ago, no response. You want all 6 posts removed within 14 days. Willing to escalate to DMCA + hosting provider takedown + public X post. Jurisdiction: California.
Disclaimer: This is a template. For active legal disputes or high-stakes cases, get a lawyer involved.
Subject: Cease and Desist Notice — Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Content
To: Owner / Operator of mediumcopyseo.example
Email: [their contact email]
Date: [today's date]
1. This is a formal demand.
My name is [Your Name]. I am the author and copyright holder of original blog content published at [yourdomain.com]. This letter is a formal cease-and-desist notice regarding unauthorized use of that content on the website mediumcopyseo.example.
2. The facts:
Between [date range], six of my original blog posts were copied verbatim and republished on mediumcopyseo.example without permission, without attribution, and with my byline removed. The copied posts are located at:
Parameters
Text generation parameters
FAQ
Send the letter by email AND certified mail when the stakes warrant. The certified-mail receipt becomes the proof-of-notice for any later legal proceedings. The prompt targets Claude Sonnet and lives in the Personal & Career category on mycopyprompt.
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The original posts were published on [yourdomain.com/...] on [dates] and remain available. Side-by-side screenshots, archive.org snapshots, and HTML diffs demonstrating the copying have been preserved.
I previously contacted you on [date] requesting removal. I have received no response.
3. Legal basis:
My original works are protected by U.S. copyright law (17 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.). The unauthorized reproduction and public display of these works on your site constitutes copyright infringement.
4. Demand:
You are demanded to:
(a) Remove all six listed pages from mediumcopyseo.example and from any caches or backups under your control; (b) Cease publishing any other content originally authored by me; and (c) Confirm in writing to me at [your email] that the above has been completed.
Deadline: 14 days from the date of this letter, by [specific date].
5. If you do not comply by [deadline]:
I will pursue, without further notice:
(a) A formal DMCA takedown notice to your hosting provider and to Google Search (which will remove the pages from index); (b) A complaint to your domain registrar requesting WHOIS information; (c) Public documentation of the infringement on my professional channels; (d) Consultation with counsel regarding statutory damages, which under U.S. copyright law may range from $750 to $30,000 per infringed work, or up to $150,000 per work if the infringement is found to be willful.
6. Path to resolve quickly:
If you remove the content and confirm by reply to this email within 14 days, I consider this matter closed. I have no interest in pursuing further action if compliance is prompt.
If you believe you have a legitimate right to use the content (license, original authorship, fair use), respond with that basis in writing before the deadline.
7. Contact:
All communication regarding this matter should go to: [Your Name] [Your Email] [Your Phone, optional]
This letter is sent without prejudice to any other rights or remedies available to me, all of which are expressly reserved.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Date]
Notes on sending: