5,0/5 Google · 167 reviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.Period: October 2016 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
Have a filesharing warning letter reviewed
Clarify the deadline, claim and cease-and-desist first
A filesharing warning letter contains short deadlines, a payment demand and a pre-drafted cease-and-desist declaration. We review whether the letter is justified and which response fits.
Please enter a short description first.
The first contact is free of charge. Before any costs arise, we will tell you explicitly.
Response on working days within 24 hours
Stand: 23.10.2026
Review of the letter1 of 5
- Deadline and serviceReceived
- Work and rights holderCheck
- Investigation and connectionCheck
- Claim separatedCheck
- Decision on responseYou decideMissing
Review point: who could use the connection?
- 1Send the letterWith deadlines
- 2ReviewDeadline, claim, cease-and-desist
- 3ResponseSet the line
Schematic illustration. Simplified example.
We review filesharing cases for
- Connection holders
- Families
- Shared flats
- Companies
- Wi-Fi landlords
Key points in brief
- Do not sign the enclosed cease-and-desist declaration without review and do not pay hastily.
- A warning letter, a payment order and a lawsuit require different responses with their own deadlines.
- ITMR reviews whether the warning letter is plausible, effective and justified and which response fits.
- Lawsuits are decided by the court.
- Your contact is Anna Ciuraj and her team. She is a Rechtsanwältin (lawyer). Response on working days within 24 hours.
- Filesharing
- Sharing files via file-sharing networks. Rights holders frequently send warning letters for this.
- Cease-and-desist declaration
- A declaration to refrain from a certain conduct in future, usually secured by a contractual penalty.
Starting point
Which letter have you received?
The next step depends on the document and the date of service.
A cease-and-desist declaration can apply without an end date. The enclosed version is not automatically the right one.
With a warning letter with a short deadline, payment and cease-and-desist should be treated separately. Do not give the other side any information about the use.
A payment order is not a reminder. Without a timely objection, an enforceable title can arise.
In a lawsuit, specific information on the use of the connection is decisive. General statements hardly help.
If you suspect a fake warning letter, unusual payment methods or inconsistent sender details are warning signs. Do not transfer anything and do not submit any data.
- For whom
- private individuals and companies
- Occasion
- Warning letter, payment order, lawsuit
- Core
- Deadline, claim, cease-and-desist
- Decision
- You; in proceedings, the court
In our reviews, filesharing warning letters mostly concern BitTorrent. The allegation is offering protected works via the connection, not the mere download.
This page is tailored to file-sharing network cases. Streaming, sharehosters, Usenet or IPTV require different reviews. For those, copyright law is the right starting point.
Quick assessment
Send the letter with enclosures via the form. We will get back to you on working days within 24 hours.
Process
How do we review your letter?
Three steps to a response line.
01
Send the letter
Send the warning letter, payment order or lawsuit with notes on deadlines and previous communication.
02
Review
We assess what is demanded, whether a response is necessary and what risks payment, silence or signing involve.
03
Response
Rejection, negotiation, an adjusted cease-and-desist declaration, an objection to the payment order or defence against the lawsuit.
What we review in detail
- 1
Who is sending a warning letter for what?
We cross-check the law firm, rights holder, work, time of capture and IP address.
- 2
Is the investigation correct?
We review the court authorisation order, assignment by the provider, time of measurement and multiple captures.
- 3
What is being demanded?
Warning letter costs, licence damages and the settlement amount follow different rules and are assessed separately.
- 4
Who used the connection?
We reconstruct access, devices, co-users and reasonable enquiries at the time of the act.
Service
What does the review include?
Service package: filesharing
Deadline review
Secure deadlines for cease-and-desist, payment and objection.
Claim review
Assess the chain of rights, reference to the work, investigation and assignment of the connection.
Cease-and-desist
Whether a declaration is owed and in which version.
Claim
Assess warning letter costs, licence damages, limitation and settlement.
- For whom
- private individuals and companies
- First response
- on working days within 24 hours
- Costs
- We tell you the costs transparently before you instruct us.
- Not included in the package
- Technical expert opinions on the router or the investigation. We commission these separately if needed.
Who provides what and who decides
What you provide
- Letter with enclosures
- Envelope or proof of service
- Previous communication
- Information on use of the connection
What we take care of
- Review of deadline and claim
- Assessment of the cease-and-desist declaration
- Correspondence with the other side
- Objection and defence
Who decides
- You, on payment, declaration or defence
- The court, on a lawsuit
How does the engagement work?
- 1
Initial assessment
You send the letter via the form. We assess deadlines and risks. The first contact is free of charge.
- 2
Offer
Before we start, we tell you the scope and costs transparently.
- 3
Court action separately
We agree court proceedings and representation separately.
Response line
Which response fits the risk?
Three routes after the review.
| Criterion | Rejection | Adjusted cease-and-desist | Negotiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it fits | Chain of rights, reference to the work, measurement or assignment can be challenged | A cease-and-desist risk exists | Litigation risk and claim match |
| Consequence | No declaration, no payment | Limited commitment for the future | Economic resolution of the case |
| Risk | Payment order or lawsuit possible | Contractual penalty in case of breach | Payment despite open questions |
Connection holder
Is the connection holder automatically liable?
No. It depends on specific information in the individual case.
What must be specific
Who had access at the time of the act, which devices come into question and who had the knowledge and opportunity.
Name co-users
Whether visitors, family, flatmates or employees had access and what enquiries were made.
What is hardly enough
A general denial, a mere reference to other household members or general doubts about the IP address.
Be careful with statements
Unprepared statements to the other side can weaken the defence.
Legal framework
Which rules apply to filesharing?
Offering works in file-sharing networks concerns the right of making available to the public under Section 19a UrhG.
Cease-and-desist and damages follow from Section 97 UrhG. The requirements for the warning letter and the cap on warning letter costs for private first-time cases are governed by Section 97a UrhG.
Rights holders identify connection holders via the right to information under Section 101 UrhG.
An objection to a payment order is possible under Section 694 ZPO. The deadline runs from service.
Sources
- Section 19a UrhG Making available to the public.
- Section 97 UrhG Cease-and-desist and damages.
- Section 97a UrhG Warning letter.
- Section 101 UrhG Right to information.
- Section 694 ZPO Objection to the payment order.
Limits
What does the review not do?
Clear limits protect your planning.
- 1
No promise of outcome
A lawsuit is decided by the court.
- 2
No extension of deadlines
Statutory deadlines run independently of our review.
- 3
No technical expert opinions
We commission expert opinions on the router or investigation separately if needed.
- 4
The decision remains yours
Whether you pay, sign or defend yourself is your decision.
What you can expect as a result
- An assessment of the deadline, claim and cease-and-desist.
- A clear recommendation on the response.
- An assessment of the litigation risk.
Your contact
Anna Ciuraj
Rechtsanwältin (lawyer) · media, press and copyright law · social media law
View profile Düsseldorf, Schirmerstraße 80 · Hamburg, Palmaille 124
At ITMR, Jean Paul Bohne, Andreas Buchholz and Dr. Alexander Pleh hold the title Fachanwalt für Informationstechnologierecht (certified specialist lawyer for IT law).
ReviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.
What clients say
5,0 von 5 · 71 Bewertungen auf anwalt.dePeriod: October 2018 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
“The firm offers a first contact free of charge for filesharing warning letters, which is invaluable for a non-lawyer to gain an insight into the current legal situation and one’s own options for action. …” (translated from German)
“Mr Bohne has already advised me very competently and professionally several times in cases involving copyright warning letters. I always felt I was in good hands.” (translated from German)
“The lawyer is more than competent, excellent and one of the best I have had so far. He is always reachable, has already won 2 of my 2 cases and I can recommend him from the heart! Very obliging too. Thank you again for your efficient and effective work!” (translated from German)
FAQ
What do people affected ask about filesharing?
Why a warning letter if I only downloaded?
With BitTorrent, the client also makes file parts available to other users. This very offering is the legal allegation.
Should I sign the cease-and-desist declaration?
Not without review. First we clarify whether a declaration is owed and which version fits the case.
Do I have to pay the amount immediately?
Not without review. Warning letter costs, licence damages and the settlement amount follow different rules.
Who is still sending warning letters in 2026 and what amounts are demanded is shown in our article (in German) Filesharing warning letter 2026.
What is a modified cease-and-desist declaration?
An adjusted declaration. It can limit a cease-and-desist risk without adopting the other side’s draft.
What is important with a payment order?
The date of service. After that, we review whether and how an objection is filed.
How do I recognise a fake warning letter?
Warning signs are unusual payment methods, inconsistent sender details, missing file numbers and linguistic errors.
Which documents do you need?
The warning letter with enclosures, cease-and-desist declaration, payment order or lawsuit, proof of service, previous communication and information on use of the connection.
Next step
Is a deadline running for you?
If you have received a warning letter, a payment order or a lawsuit, we clarify the response first.
Helpful for your enquiry
- Letter with enclosures
- Proof of service or envelope
- Previous communication
- Information on use of the connection
State the date of service. It determines the timetable.
Have a filesharing letter reviewed
For connection holders, families and companies with a warning letter, payment order or lawsuit.
Briefly state the letter, deadline and date of service.
Related services
Copyright law Claims and defence.Defend against a warning letter If you receive a warning letter.Service packages All packages.
From our blog (in German): Filesharing warning letter 2026 · Instructing children