Vorys Letters and Cease & Desist Letters: What Amazon Sellers Need to Know in 2026
Vorys Letters and Cease & Desist Letters Explained
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP represents major brands seeking to control their distribution channels on Amazon. When a brand wants to remove third party sellers from the marketplace, Vorys sends cease and desist letters on their behalf. Other brands use their own attorneys or brand protection companies to send similar demands.
Vorys generally sends you a four page letter claiming that you violated their client’s trademark and copyright and all sorts of other things. The vast majority of those claims are absolutely baseless. If you are selling genuine products, the vast majority of the time, Vorys’ claims may be baseless.
But there’s one claim in every Vorys letter that deserves special attention, the interference with contract claim.
Expect More Vorys Letters in 2026
What happened to Amazon sellers in 2025 predicts what will happen to Sellers in 2026. Amazon continues moving toward stronger brand protection, which means more tools for brands to target third party sellers, and more Vorys letters and cease and desist demands.
Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit filed multiple lawsuits throughout 2025 against bad actors, partnering with brands and law enforcement to stop counterfeiters. According to Amazon, bad actor attempts to create new selling accounts dropped from 6 million in 2020 to 700,000 in 2023 (this is from Amazon’s own reporting in November 2025).
As Amazon invests more in brand protection, brands become more aggressive, including sending cease and desist letters to legitimate resellers who have every right to sell. Amazon Brand Registry gives brands enhanced search and reporting tools to identify sellers, file intellectual property complaints, and trigger account level enforcement. The Transparency program lets brands use unique codes ensuring only authenticated items ship to customers.
The VORYS Interference with Contract Claim
Every Vorys letter ends the same way, with a claim that you’ve violated some contract between the brand and its authorized sellers. The letter implies that by selling the product, you’ve breached an agreement you’re supposedly bound by.
In all the years we’ve been requesting copies of these alleged contracts, I can’t recall a single instance where Vorys actually sent that contract back to the seller to support their claim.
They claim the contract exists. They claim you’re in violation. When we ask them to prove it and VORYS chooses not to send a copy of the contract VORYS claims supports its’ claims against Sellers.
The contract between the brand and its authorized sellers can be enforced against unauthorized sellers because the unauthorized seller interferes with that contract. The claim is valid. But for the claim to be enforced, the unauthorized seller has to have notice of the agreement. That is why we ask for copies. When we send letters requesting proof, they almost never respond with documentation.
Responding to a Vorys Letter
Don’t ignore the email. Write back:
“I read your letter. I take it seriously. Send a copy of that contract you claim I’m in violation of.”
If you receive a Vorys letter, contact us for help. Request a copy of whatever contract Vorys claims you’re in violation of. Respond professionally and put the burden back on them to substantiate their claims.
The letter may specify a response timeframe. Even without one, responding promptly prevents escalation. Many brands file Amazon complaints simultaneously or shortly after sending cease and desist letters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Vorys letter?
These letters are legal threats from the law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLC, sent on behalf of brands requesting the removal of Amazon third-party sellers. The letters accuse sellers of trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and tortious interference with contracts, even when the sellers are offering 100% genuine products.
Who is Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP?
Vorys is an extensive law firm that specializes in the protection of a brand’s interests, as well as the enforcement of intellectual property rights on Amazon. They serve large companies in the fields of electronics, beauty, supplements, and other consumer products. They have become one of the most prominent companies in the fight against Amazon sellers who operate without permission.
Should I respond to a Vorys cease and desist letter?
Yeah, respond to it. You have to reply to it in order to show that you are taking the letter seriously. Request the contract documentation that you allegedly violated. From our experience, Vorys doesn’t respond to those requests.
Are Vorys valid claims concerning copyright and trademarks?
If you’ve obtained and are selling authentic products from legitimate sources, most Vorys trademark and copyright claims are unsupported due to the First Sale Doctrine. However, their interference with contract claims is a bit more complicated—Vorys must demonstrate that you had knowledge of specific terms of the contract, which is why obtaining that contract is so important.
In a Vorys letter, what does the “interference with contract” really mean?
Interference with contract means you disrupted the brand and its authorized sellers’ contracts. To be liable, you must have had knowledge of the contract terms. You should request a copy of the contract—absent documented notice to you, this claim fails most of the time.
Will Vorys provide the contract they say I breached?
In almost a decade of representing sellers against Vorys, we cannot recall a single instance in which they provided an actual contract when requested. They claim a contract exists and you breached it, but they almost never provide evidence to support their claims when challenged.
About CJ Rosenbaum
CJ Rosenbaum is the founding partner of Rosenbaum & Segall, P.C., operating AmazonSellersLawyer.com. He’s practiced law since 1995 and focused exclusively on Amazon seller legal issues since 2016. He has authored six books on Amazon seller legal topics and has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, and FOX Business. He speaks at Amazon seller and intellectual property conferences including Prosper Show, Global Sources Summit, and Retail Global, and served as Chairperson of the Employment Law section overseeing more than 6,000 attorneys.
The team includes former Amazon employees Rahul and Farha, Patent Bar attorney Brian Malkin with more than 30 years of intellectual property experience, and paralegal Vin with nearly a decade at the firm. We represent both Amazon sellers facing suspensions and approximately 400 brands for protection services, giving us perspective from both sides.
Contact Us
Received a Vorys letter? Don’t wait to respond.
Phone: 1.212.256.1109
Website: AmazonSellersLawyer.com
Email: CJ@AmazonSellersLawyer.com
The Amazon Counterfeit Crimes Unit data referenced above comes from Amazon’s November 2025 report at aboutamazon.com/news/policy-news-views/amazon-counterfeit-crimes-unit-latest-updates-2024