Legal Question in Business Law in Massachusetts

Re: Using someones letterhead without permission.

Simply "using" letterhead is not going to get you into particular trouble, if by using, you mean taking a sheet of letterhead and marking or typing something on it. For example, I can take a sheet of letterhead for the Red Cross, and I can draw a picture on it, then throw it in the trash. I have not done anything that would get me into trouble (technically, you have "stolen" the blank piece of letterhead, but from a practical point of view, you are not likely to get charged with stealing one piece of letterhead -- steal an entire box, which may cost $50, and that is another matter). If I type a letter, and pretend to be the Red Cross, that is a different matter. The answer to your question will depend on what you do with the letterhead, once it has been "used". Signing your name, as if you were from the organization, is probably forgery, and that is a crime in Massachusetts. You could also be held responsible for violating the trademark of the owner of the letterhead.

This is never a good idea. If you have been accused, you need legal help. You can go to jail for forgery.