Trade mark infringement can be a serious matter which needs to be addressed as soon as it is discovered. Companies, or individuals, who infringe a trade mark do not often understand the legal implications of copying or using a mark without permission. On the other side, trade mark owners are also unaware of the process of stopping trade mark infringement. In this post, we will look at the first step taken to stop trade mark infringement. A Cease and Desist letter.
What is a Cease and Desist letter?
A Cease and Desist letter is a document which is served to an individual or business to request they cease from continuing a specific act. It also requires the offending party to correct and/or compensate the damage that has been done from an offensive act.
Cease and Desist doesn’t just apply to trade mark infringement. It is also used in cases of defamation, harassment and other forms of IP.
The letter serves to point out wrongdoing on the part of another person or entity with a legal justification. The letter is often used to end the wrongdoing which in the case of a trademark infringement would be copying or using a trademark unlawfully.
Is a Cease and Desist letter legally binding?
A Cease and Desist letter is not legally binding. It represents an opinion of a person, usually a trade mark attorney or intellectual property (IP) solicitor hired by the aggrieved person or party.
The letter isn’t an indication of court action being pursued, but is likely to be the next course of action if the letter doesn’t achieve its intended purpose.
Using a Cease and Desist letter in a trade mark infringement matter
If your trade mark is copied or used by someone else without permission, the matter needs to be investigated first to see if it is a case of trade mark infringement. Once established, the very first step is to send the letter to the alleged trade mark infrniger to stop the trade mark infringement. In many cases, this is often enough to stop the offending party.
The letter should include details of the trade mark. The name, logo or slogan. When the trade mark was filed, what class or classes it covers and the date you found the trade mark being unfairly used or copied. You should include all proof that you have found of the infringement to strengthen your case. Finally, the letter should include a section on what the offending party can do to rectify the situation.
Although a Cease and Desist letter can be written by anyone. It is more appropriate for a trade mark attorney or intellectual property (IP) solicitor to draft it because they have the knowledge and understanding of the area to make a more compelling case for infringement.
