How-To Guides

MAP Violation Letter Template (Free, Lawyer-Reviewed)

Copy-paste cease and desist letter template for MAP violations, plus the variations for authorized vs unauthorized sellers.

Published 2026-05-02 · 6 min read

When to use this template

Use this template the moment you detect a MAP violation — ideally within 24 hours of the violation appearing. After 48 hours the price cascade has already triggered authorized partners to match downward, and your enforcement leverage drops sharply.

If you don't have a MAP policy yet, generate one first with our free [MAP Policy Generator](/tools/map-policy-generator). The template below references that policy.

Template 1 — Authorized reseller (signed MAP agreement)

Use when the violator signed your MAP / dealer agreement.

Subject: Notice of MAP Policy Violation — [SKU / Product Name]
Dear [Seller Name],
[Your Company Name] ("Brand") has identified a violation of the Minimum Advertised Price Policy you agreed to on [Agreement Date], a copy of which is attached.
Violation details:
- Product: [Product Name and SKU]
- MAP Price: $[MAP Price]
- Your Advertised Price: $[Violation Price]
- Listing URL: [URL]
- Date and time observed: [Timestamp]
- Evidence: see attached timestamped capture
You have 48 hours from receipt of this notice to either:
1. Raise the advertised price to at or above $[MAP Price], or
2. Remove the listing from public view.
Failure to comply within 48 hours will result in immediate termination of your dealer agreement per Section [X] of the MAP Policy. We will also notify [Marketplace Name] of the violation under their seller code of conduct.
Please confirm receipt of this notice and your remediation timeline by reply.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Title]
[Your Company]
[Email] · [Phone]

Template 2 — Unauthorized reseller (no agreement on file)

Use when the violator never signed your MAP — most marketplace 3P sellers fall here. You cannot cite MAP, so pivot to trademark and material-difference arguments.

Subject: Notice of Unauthorized Sale and Trademark Misuse — [Product Name]
Dear [Seller Name / Storefront Operator],
[Your Company Name] ("Brand") owns the registered trademark(s) for [Product Name] (USPTO Reg. No. [Number]). You are listed as a seller of this product at:
[Listing URL]
Our records indicate you are not an authorized reseller of [Product Name]. The product you are offering:
- Is sold without the original manufacturer warranty applicable to authorized channels.
- May have been diverted from intended geographic distribution.
- Is being advertised in a manner inconsistent with our brand standards, creating consumer confusion.
Under the first-sale doctrine, the material differences between authorized and unauthorized product create an exception. Your continued sale constitutes trademark infringement and unfair competition.
You have 48 hours from receipt of this notice to remove the listing(s) from public view.
If not removed, we will:
1. File a Brand Registry report with [Marketplace Name].
2. Initiate civil action for trademark infringement and tortious interference.
3. Pursue damages including disgorgement of profits and attorneys' fees.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Title]
[Your Company]
[Email] · [Phone]

Template 3 — Soft notice (first-time authorized partner)

Use when an authorized partner's automated repricer overshot and you want to preserve the relationship.

Subject: Quick heads-up — MAP overshoot on [Product Name]
Hi [Seller Name],
Looks like your repricer dipped [Product Name] to $[Violation Price] earlier today against a MAP of $[MAP Price]. Almost certainly an automation issue.
Could you adjust the floor in your repricer for SKU [SKU] within the next 24 hours? Happy to share the full MAP file again if useful.
Thanks,
[Your Name]

This is the right opening volley for a long-tenured partner. If the same partner overshoots a second time within 30 days, escalate to Template 1.

What every letter must include

Regardless of which template you use:

Specific listing URL — never refer to "your listings" generically.
Timestamped evidence — full-page capture, not a phone screenshot.
Exact prices — both the MAP and the violation price, to the cent.
A defined cure window — 48–72 hours is standard.
A specific consequence — termination, marketplace report, civil action.

Vague letters get ignored. Specific letters get responses within hours.

Why timestamped evidence matters more than the template

Sellers routinely claim "the price was correct when we checked" and demand proof. Without a defensible timestamp, your letter is your word against theirs.

Price-Scan captures every violation with a full-page HTML snapshot plus cryptographic timestamp the moment it's detected. That evidence attaches to your C&D and makes the violation effectively unrebuttable. Run a free scan on any product from the [homepage](/) to see what the capture looks like.

What to do after sending

Track the response window. A simple spreadsheet column with "sent date," "cure deadline," "outcome" is enough for catalogs under 50 SKUs.
Follow through on the consequence. If you said "termination in 48 hours," terminate at hour 48. Empty threats train every other reseller to ignore your next C&D.
Don't negotiate the MAP price with the violator. The moment you discuss it, you've created an "agreement" and lost Colgate doctrine protection. (See [Is MAP Pricing Legal?](/intelligence/is-map-pricing-legal-everything-manufacturers-need-to-know) for the legal mechanics.)