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.