On June 25, 2010, the directors of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced ICANN would allow the application for a top-level domain name for adult entertainment, designated .xxx, to proceed. ICANN, based in Marina Del Rey, California and responsible for overseeing internet addresses and domain names, had previously denied the application submitted by ICM Registry.
Stuart Lawley of ICM Registry stated that the company had received 30,000 pre-orders for .xxx addresses in the three days following ICANN's announcement and that he hopes the .xxx domain will be up and running in early 2011. ICM Registry claims on its website that a CNN poll found that 83% favor a .xxx domain for adult entertainment although many in the adult entertainment industry oppose its creation, including because of concerns that in the future all adult entertainment sites will be required to be accessible only through the .xxx domain.
Proponents of the .xxx contend, among other things, that it will make it easier for parents and others to filter out pornograpy. Farrell Timlake, an owner and director of Homegrown Video (www.homegrownvideo.com), disputes this assertion. "There are plenty of ways already available to filter out porn," Timlake stated. "The creation of the .xxx domain is burdensome and unnecessary and will make it even more difficult for companies to police trademarks and copyrights."
Comments