The web's key oversight authority today threatened legal action against Verisign for its new SiteFinder initiative, Verisign in turn agreeing to suspend the service, for now. -

Verisign's decision to implement wildcard domain records (in essence redirecting wayward surfers to their new ad-backed website if they mis-type addresses or hit an unregistered domain) has given them no shortage of enemies web-wide. Some ISP's have implemented workarounds to thwart the attempt, and several lawsuits have been filed against the company; plaintiffs accusing them of abusing their position as the web's primary domain manager for financial gain.

Through it all Verisign primarily shuffled their feet and grumbled, saying they'd send the idea to Committee to further explore any potential problems the change would call, something the majority of critics argue was too little, too late. The decision quickly caused numerous problems web-wide, from malfunctioning printers to troubles with anti-spam technology.

Verisign acquired their powerful position after acquiring Network Solutions, and ICANN's (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) decision to keep Verisign in that position has been a topic for debate for years now.

ICANN was polite in response to the changes at first, issuing an advisory that the shift "appears to have considerably weakened the stability of the Internet, introduced ambiguous and inaccurate responses in the (Domain Name System), and has caused an escalating chain reaction of measures and countermeasures that contribute to further instability."

Verisign responded to ICANN with an optimistic letter, which suggested that shutting down the Sitefinder service would be "premature". "All indications are that users, important members of the internet community we all serve, are benefiting from the improved web navigation offered by Site Finder," the letter says. "These results are consistent with the findings from the extensive research we performed."

If the internet could laugh, it likely let out a digital chuckle at Verisign's use of the word "benefit".

Apparently ICANN's good humor has expired, and the organization today threatened legal action against Verisign if they refuse to reverse their course. ICANN has given the company until 9 p.m. EDT Saturday to back-pedal on their decision, after which it will "seek promptly to enforce VeriSign's contractual obligations". Update: Verisign has apparently agreed to back down and suspend the service for now, a company spokesman saying "We will accede to the request while we explore all of our options."