Last weeks' temporary restraining order against SpamCop, a service to block junk e-mail, has been lifted by the Northern Californian District Court. It had been obtained by self-professed "Spam King" Scott Richter of bulk e-mailer company OptInRealBig.

It appears that US District Court Judge Sandra Brown Armstrong only imposed the order in the first place because SpamCop was late in filing its opposition, according to media reports.

The dispute arose because of claims by Richter that SpamCop's e-mail blocking practices have interfered with his business. It is also alleged that by not disclosing the identity of those who complain about OptIn's junk e-mail, SpamCop was potentially infringing the Can-Spam Act.

Neither the imposition nor the removal of the injunction have any bearing on the merits of the case which will be heard on 20th May.

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