what is a cease and desist order

A cease and desist order is a legal document sent to an individual or business to stop alleged illegal activity. The phrase "cease and desist" is a legal doublet, made up of two near-synonyms. A cease and desist letter is a cautionary letter sent to an alleged wrongdoer describing the alleged misconduct and demanding that the alleged misconduct be stopped. A cease and desist letter is not legally binding, although it is a formal step that may be followed by a lawsuit if the recipient ignores it. A cease and desist order, on the other hand, is issued by a court or government agency and has legal power. It places an injunction on a company or an individual prohibiting an activity that has been deemed suspicious. A cease and desist order is legally binding and is issued by a government agency or court when there is reason to believe that illegal or harmful activity is taking place. A cease and desist letter is often used to warn the wrongdoer against harassment, slander, libel, as well as contractual violations. Cease and desist letters are sometimes used to intimidate recipients and can be "an effective tool used by corporations to chill the critical speech of gripe sites operators". A cease and desist letter often triggers licensing negotiations and is a frequent first step towards litigation.