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Received a warning letter? We provide immediate assistance.

We offer our clients professional assistance regarding warning letters in the fields of trademark law, design law, patent law, copyright law and competition law (unfair competition). We defend them nationwide against warning letters alleging


  •  Trademark Infringement – You are accused of the unauthorized use of another party's trademark or distinctive sign, for example, through the marketing of gray-market imports, trademark counterfeiting, etc.

  •  Copyright Infringement – This concerns, for instance, the unauthorized exploitation of another party's images, texts, or videos.

  •  Patent Infringement and Utility Model Infringement – You are accused of the unauthorized use of a patent or utility model.

  •  Design Infringement – You are accused of the unauthorized use of another party's design.

  •  Unfair Competition – You are accused of unfair conduct in business competition, for example, through impermissible advertising claims, misleading advertising, comparative advertising, or violations of the Price Indication Ordinance (PAngV), the Product Safety Act (ProdSG), the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG), etc.


Defending against a warning letter is fraught with potential pitfalls. Do not take any risks and seek professional assistance. We have successfully defended numerous clients against claims asserted in warning letters – here you can find a list of our opponents. We know exactly what needs to be done and will provide you with a proper defense.


In all cases, the following rule applies: Do not hastily sign the demanded cease-and-desist declaration; do not make direct contact with the opposing party; and strictly adhere to all stipulated deadlines.

Modified Cease-and-Desist Declaration

We strongly advise against drafting a (modified) cease-and-desist declaration yourself or using a template found on the internet. Doing so runs the risk of inadvertently admitting liability and, furthermore, committing yourself to obligations far beyond what is actually required. Moreover, some warning letters constitute an abuse of legal process; in such cases, you may be entitled to claim reimbursement for your own legal fees. Maybe we are already familiar with your opposing party.


Please bear in mind that a cease-and-desist declaration can give rise to a binding contract. Any violation of such a declaration could potentially cost several thousand euros. Therefore, it is essential to carefully assess whether submitting a modified cease-and-desist declaration is necessary at all – and, if so, exactly what form it should take. As an alternative, filing a protective brief may be considered.

First Aid for a Warning Letter – Here’s How It Works:

1.  Submit the Warning Letter to us

Send the warning letter to our law firm via email, without obligation. It is possible that we are already familier with your opponent.


2.  Consult with an Specialist Attorney

We will review whether the warning letter is justified, inform you of the costs involved in retaining our services, and provide an initial assessment. Once you formally retain us, we will provide comprehensive advice and work with you to develop a suitable defense strategy.


3.  Respond Correctly

We will defend you against unjustified warning letters; in other cases, we will submit a modified cease-and-desist declaration to limit your costs. Naturally, we will handle all correspondence with the opposing party.


When receiving a warning letter, it is crucial to act promptly. Otherwise, you risk facing a preliminary injunction or a lawsuit. For this reason, we typically respond on the very same business day.

Contact us

Feel free to contact us by sending us an e-mail or calling us at any time. We are looking forward to helping you with any issues relating to trademark law, patent law, copyright law, design law, license agreements, distribution law and competition law.

Attorney at law Andreas Erlenhardt, LL.M.

Bar-certified specialist attorney for intellectual property



We do business all over Germany. Our Düsseldorf office is located within the district of the Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) of Düsseldorf, to which the following communities belong: Hilden, Langenfeld, Meerbusch, Neuss, Krefeld, Kaarst, Ratingen, Mönchengladbach, Viersen, Kempen, Wuppertal, Erkrath, Haan, Remscheid, Mettmann, Solingen, Velbert, Oberhausen, Duisburg, Mülheim, Dinslaken and Kleve – we do not have offices in these cities but only in Düsseldorf. We have advised clients who are located in Berlin, Dortmund, Bremen, Köln, Dresden, Bochum, Bonn, Gelsenkirchen, Chemnitz, Kiel, Augsburg, Koblenz, Lübeck, Leverkusen, Oldenburg, Stuttgart, Osnabrück, Paderborn, Würzburg, Ulm, Offenbach, Bottrop, Hannover, Münster, Recklinghausen, Trier, Erlangen, Jena, Reutlingen, Nürnberg, Pforzheim, Göttingen, Heilbronn, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Darmstadt, Heidelberg, Potsdam, Leipzig, Hamm, Kassel, Saarbrücken, Mainz, Freiburg, Aachen, Braunschweig, Wiesbaden, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Bielefeld, Essen, Frankfurt and München.