Cease and desist letter

An Amazon hijacker is a seller who joins your existing listing without authorization. An unauthorized seller is a broader term for someone selling your products without your approval. A hijacker may sell genuine products, counterfeit products, or products that differ from what your listing represents.

The removal process depends on the specific issue. Counterfeit products may support an intellectual property or policy violation, while the unauthorized sale of genuine products may require a different approach.

In 2025 Amazon seized more than 15 million counterfeit products according to its 2025 Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report.

A cease and desist letter can persuade an unauthorized seller on Amazon to stop selling your products, but it does not guarantee removal from Amazon. Its effectiveness depends on the seller, the nature of the violation, and the evidence supporting your claim.

A C&D letter also creates a written record that the seller was notified of the issue. If the seller doesn't comply, that documentation can support further enforcement or escalation.

Sometimes, but you shouldn't report a genuine product as counterfeit on Amazon. Reselling a product that was legitimately purchased is generally allowed under the first sale doctrine.

A potential exception is when the seller's product is materially different from what your brand provides. For example, the product may lack a warranty, guarantee, or customer support that buyers receive through your authorized channels. In that case, the issue is the difference between what the seller provides and what your brand stands behind.

A strong cease and desist letter should clearly identify the issue and explain why the seller must stop. Include your trademark information, specific ASINs, the seller's Amazon storefront, any relevant warranty or quality-control differences, and a clear deadline for compliance.

If you're relying on differences in quality control or customer support, you should be able to show that your brand has established and consistently followed those standards. A documented, established process is generally stronger than a policy created after the dispute began.

Three warnings is a practical ceiling for most cases. If a seller ignores repeated notices, consider moving to the next enforcement step rather than repeatedly sending the same letter.

You can also pursue other options at the same time. For example, if the issue involves an Amazon policy or intellectual property violation, you can submit the appropriate Brand Registry report while communicating with the seller.

Move to preparing stronger evidence, because Amazon relies on documentation when reviewing seller complaints. Consider ordering the product from the seller, photographing what arrives alongside your authentic product, and including the order ID with your report.

A test buy can significantly strengthen your case by giving Amazon a specific order, product, and set of evidence to review.

No. You can send a cease and desist letter without a registered trademark, but registration can give you stronger enforcement options on Amazon. A registered trademark is also required for enrollment in Amazon Brand Registry, which provides access to additional brand protection tools.

Trademark rights are generally territorial, so registering your mark in one country does not automatically protect it in another. Amazon's IP Accelerator has helped more than 33,000 brands secure trademark protection across 35 countries. If you haven't registered your trademark yet, consider starting with trademark registration.

Many Brand Registry reports receive a response within a few business days, although more complicated cases can take longer. Removal is not guaranteed, so it can be helpful to pursue other appropriate options at the same time.

We can handle the cease and desist process in parallel, sending the digital copy within one business day and mailing the physical copy within two. This allows you to address the seller directly while Amazon reviews the report.

Your report may be rejected when the violation you selected doesn't match the evidence you're providing. For example, a counterfeit claim requires evidence that the product is not genuine. A test buy can also provide stronger evidence by giving Amazon a specific order and product to review.

Amazon says its proactive controls blocked more than 99.9% of suspected infringing listings before brand owners reported them. When a case reaches the reporting stage, providing clear, specific evidence can help Amazon understand and evaluate the alleged violation.

Yes, if you own the copyright to the original photos. Product photography, original listing content, and packaging artwork can be protected by copyright, and you may be able to submit a copyright infringement report to Amazon when another seller uses your work without permission. A takedown under the Digital Millennium Copyright Ac provides Amazon with a formal basis for reviewing the infringement

Registering your copyright before a dispute can make enforcement easier. The U.S. Copyright Office currently lists electronic registration at $45 for a single work by a sole author and $65 for the standard application, with processing times averaging about 4.1 months. A registration may also be useful when pursuing infringement across other marketplaces.

Start with the seller's Amazon storefront and review the business information Amazon makes available. Use the seller's name and address to research public business records and verify whether the information points to a legitimate business.

If the seller is offering genuine products, tracing where those products came from can also be valuable. The source may be a distributor, liquidator, or other partner who is selling outside your authorized channels. Identifying the source can help you address the broader issue instead of dealing with one seller at a time.

Make your listing harder to replicate and reduce the appeal of reselling your products. Put your branding on the product itself, consider adding a unique bundled item, and make your detail page specific enough that other products cannot easily match it.

You can also use Transparency codes to help verify products before they reach customers. Amazon says Transparency now covers more than 2.7 billion units across over 90,000 brands. Written reseller agreements can also help establish clear restrictions on where and how your products may be sold.