Verizon Communications on Thursday demanded that Netflix immediately stop displaying messages to customers that blame Verizon's broadband service for slow delivery of Netflix TV content. Verizon send a cease-and-desist letter to Netflix, asking Netflix to provide a list of customers on the Verizon network to whom Netflix delivered the notices or face legal action.

"Failure to provide this information may lead us to pursue legal remedies," Verizon general counsel Randal Milch said in a letter to Netflix general counsel David Hyman.

Last month, Netflix started displaying messages on the screen for some customers when a video is buffering that say there is congestion on the network of Verizon or another Internet service providers.

"This is about consumers not getting what they paid for from their broadband provider," Netflix spokesman Jonathan Friedland said. "We are trying to provide more transparency, just like we do with the ISP Speed Index, and Verizon is trying to shut down that discussion."

Ironically, Verizon and Netflix are partners, following an April pact that?s supposed to make it easier for Netflix to get its videos to Verizon subscribers.