Cease & Desist email from Universal Studios (May 2001) - followed by notes

Subject: Infringement of Universal Properties
Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 10:27:33 -0700

VIA E-MAIL: suzannem@oldemail.com

Suzanne Morine

RE:	Infringement of Universal Properties - Hercules: The Legendary
Journeys, Law and Order, Northern Exposure, and Xena: Warrior Princess

Dear Ms. Morine:

Please be advised that Universal Studios, Inc. and its parent and affiliated
companies ("Universal") control merchandising and/or distribution rights in
the television series properties entitled Hercules: The Legendary Journeys,
Law and Order, Northern Exposure and Xena: Warrior Princess (collectively,
the "Universal Properties").   

Universal has learned that your website entitled The Television Transcript
Project (www.oocities.org/tvtranscripts) ("Website") has published
transcripts of episodes from the Universal Properties (collectively, the
"Unauthorized Transcripts") without a license agreement permitting such use.
Your unauthorized use and exploitation of the Universal Properties without a
license and permission from Universal constitutes a willful infringement of
Universal's proprietary rights in violation of state and federal laws.

Accordingly, Universal demands that you immediately cease and desist from
any and all exploitation and use of the Universal Properties, including
without limitation any further use of the Unauthorized Transcripts on the
Website.  Universal further demands that, within ten (10) business days from
the date of this letter, you provide written assurances to Universal that
all use and exploitation of the Universal Properties by you, the Website
and/or any person or entity acting on behalf of or under agreement with you
has ceased.

Please be advised that in the event that Universal does not receive the
foregoing from you within ten (10) business days, or by June 14, 2001, then
Universal may pursue all available rights and remedies.

Finally, this letter should not be construed as a full recitation of the
facts supporting Universal's claims, and nothing contained herein is
intended to, or does, constitute a waiver of any right, remedy or position
of Universal's, each and all of which are expressly reserved.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely yours,

[lawyer's name removed]
Counsel Business and Legal Affairs
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group
TEL:  [telephone removed]
FAX:  [fax removed]


cc:	[name removed]/Yahoo Inc. (via email: copyright@yahoo-inc.com)

Notes They demanded a response in writing but did not provide a physical address. I emailed asking for one and then they sent one, with a brief apology. Someone later told me that their omission was probably a ruse to get a "sign of life" from me: apparently a key step in pursuing legal action. I verified that this email came from Universal Studios by examining the email headers. I understand that the received lines cannot be forged. I verified to my satisfaction that the servers involved in those lines were only to do with Universal's and my ISP. I removed the transcripts and mailed them my response.