What is a letter before action (LBA), or a cease and desist letter?

The purpose of an LBA or “cease & desist” is to warn of possible Court action and offering an opportunity to provide evidence that they have not copied you or admit liability without expensive Court action. The LBA will normally give a time limit for a reply and will reflect established facts about the complaint to achieve, hopefully, an early settlement. Court Rules also require an LBA to be sent before any proceedings are commenced, except in very urgent cases. An effective LBA will take time to prepare – it is not just an ordinary letter written on solicitor headed paper. It encompasses every possible aspect to achieve your objectives in taking action against copyists.