What is a Cease and Desist Notice?

A cease-and-desist notice is a formal legal warning sent to an individual, company, or organization, directing them to immediately stop (cease) and not repeat (desist) an activity that is unlawful or infringes on someone’s legal rights.

It is commonly used in cases involving intellectual property violations, defamation, harassment, or contract breaches.

It acts as a pre-litigation remedy and serves as evidence that the petitioner was given a chance to correct their actions. If the notice is ignored, it may lead to civil or criminal legal proceedings.

Recently, Sony Music issued a cease and desist notice to Myntra for using its songs without permission, which later led to a ₹5 crore copyright infringement lawsuit.