ICANN Threatens Lawsuit Over VeriSign Search Service

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers called on VeriSign Inc. to suspend its search engine Site Finder, saying the service's introduction last month violated VeriSign's contract for running the master address lists for ".com" and ".net" domain names.

If VeriSign doesn't act by Saturday night, ICANN said it would "seek promptly to enforce VeriSign's contractual obligations."

VeriSign had refused an earlier request from ICANN to suspend the service but said it would investigate the side affects. VeriSign officials described the service as a useful navigational tool for lost Web surfers _ though it also generates unspecified revenues.

Officials with VeriSign did not immediately return calls seeking comment Friday.

ICANN, as the U.S. government's designee to oversee Internet domain name issues, grants contracts to run databases containing listings for various domain names. VeriSign has the contract for ".com" and ".net."

Internet computers around the world regularly check VeriSign's lists to properly route e-mail and Web requests. When there is no match, VeriSign's computers previously would send back a "no such name" message. But on Sept. 15, VeriSign began diverting traffic to its search site.

Spam filters that had depended on the "no such name" message stopped working properly, as did some networked printers. Meanwhile, mobile Web services have been swamped with more data than usual, potentially generating higher phone bills.

Business rivals are also upset that VeriSign is making money off its monopoly on the ".com" and ".net" directories. At least three federal lawsuits have been filed.

ICANN CEO Paul Twomey said VeriSign's new service violates several contractual provisions, including ones on equal access and operating unauthorized services. In a letter to the company, he said VeriSign "has both a legal and a practical obligation to be responsible in its actions."

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