Receiving a cease and desist letter from Keltie can be concerning, particularly if it claims that your business has infringed another party’s intellectual property (IP) rights.
You may be tempted to respond immediately, put the letter to one side, or assume that the allegations made against you must be correct. However, it is important to understand the situation fully before deciding what action to take.
The first step is to establish what is being alleged, which intellectual property rights are being asserted and what options may be available to you. Our friendly and approachable IP lawyers can help you understand the correspondence, assess your position and decide on the most appropriate way forward.
In this guide, our expert IP dispute lawyers explain why you may have received a letter from Keltie, what you should consider before responding, and how specialist intellectual property advice can help you navigate the dispute.
Who Are Keltie?
Keltie is a firm of UK and European patent and trade mark attorneys, with its head office at No. 1 London Bridge and further offices in Dublin and Galway.
The firm’s patent attorneys come from engineering and science backgrounds, and its trade mark team handles the full lifecycle of a brand, from searching and filing through to opposition, enforcement and appeals. It advises across patents, trade marks and registered designs. A letter from Keltie is usually sent on behalf of a client who believes their IP rights have been infringed.
It’s important to remember that the letter has been sent on behalf of a rights holder. Receiving one does not automatically mean you have infringed their rights, but it does mean the allegation should be taken seriously.
Why Have I Received a Letter from Keltie?
There are various reasons why Keltie may contact a business or individual, often in connection with a potential intellectual property dispute. The allegations may relate to:
- Trade mark infringement
- Patent infringement
- Copyright infringement
- Registered or unregistered design rights
- Passing off
- Domain name disputes
Depending on the nature of the matter, the letter may ask you to stop using a particular business name, trade mark or logo, withdraw certain products from sale, alter your branding, transfer a domain name, provide information about your business activities, or agree to specific legal undertakings.
The action being requested will depend on the intellectual property rights involved, the nature of the alleged infringement and the individual circumstances surrounding the dispute.
What Should You Do If You Receive a Letter from Keltie?
Receiving legal correspondence can feel daunting, but it is important to avoid making any rushed decisions. Taking time to understand the allegations and the rights being asserted can help you respond from a more informed position.
Before taking action, you should:
- Read the letter carefully and make sure you understand what is being alleged.
- Identify the intellectual property rights the other party is relying upon.
- Keep copies of the letter and any related correspondence or supporting documents.
- Avoid admitting liability, agreeing to demands or making commitments before obtaining professional advice.
- Seek guidance from an experienced intellectual property professional at Panoramix IP.
Every intellectual property dispute is different. Some claims may have a strong legal basis, while others may be open to challenge or leave room for negotiation. Understanding the strength of the allegations, your own position and the options available to you can help you decide on the most appropriate response and work towards a practical commercial resolution.
Should You Ignore a Letter from Keltie?
A letter from Keltie should be taken seriously and should not simply be left unanswered.
Failing to engage with correspondence concerning intellectual property rights could result in the dispute progressing further. If the matter remains unresolved, the rights holder may decide to take additional steps, potentially including formal legal proceedings.
However, court action is not inevitable. Many intellectual property disputes are resolved through communication and negotiation without the need for litigation. Obtaining specialist advice can help you understand the claims being made, respond appropriately and explore possible routes to resolution while minimising unnecessary costs and disruption to your business.
How To Respond To a Cease and Desist Letter From Keltie
If you have received a letter from Keltie, or another intellectual property law firm, obtaining independent advice from an IP specialist at Panoramix IP can help you understand the allegations, assess your legal position and consider the potential impact on your business before deciding how to respond.
At Panoramix IP, our team includes UK Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys, European Trade Mark Attorneys, US Trade Mark Attorneys, UK Chartered Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorneys and dual-qualified IP solicitors. We regularly support businesses facing allegations of intellectual property infringement, providing clear and commercially focused advice tailored to the circumstances of each dispute.
Depending on your situation, we can:
- Review the correspondence and allegations made against you.
- Assess the validity and strength of the intellectual property rights being asserted.
- Advise on whether infringement may have occurred.
- Prepare or review a response on your behalf.
- Handle communications and negotiations with the other party.
- Explore practical ways to resolve the dispute efficiently while protecting your commercial interests.
Our role is not simply to explain the law. We take the wider commercial context into account, helping you understand your options, make informed decisions and work towards the most appropriate outcome for your business.
If you would like our support in responding to a cease and desist letter, or would like our representation, please get in touch with our team today. You can do so by calling us on 01522 712433, emailing info@panoramixip.co.uk, or completing the contact form.
