VeriSign sent "Expiration Notices" to domain name owners,
including customers of BulkRegister, which had a "deadline" for
reply of 15th May 2002, with the implication that the domain name
was about to expire. However, BulkRegister, the world’s fourth
largest domain name registrar, sued its rival, arguing that there
was no relation between the reply deadline and the actual
expiration date of the domain.
BulkRegister won the preliminary injunction against VeriSign at
the US Federal Court for the District of Maryland. The judge found
sufficient evidence in the case to prove that VeriSign's recent
"Domain Name Expiration Notice" marketing campaign is
deceptive.
The court found that BulkRegister and its customers had been
injured and would continue to be injured if the campaign proceeded.
Additionally, the judge said VeriSign must immediately discontinue
deceptive transfer, renewal or expiration notices to BulkRegister's
customers.
