ICANN Rejects .XXX Porn Domain Extension

Porn Sites Don’t Get .XXX Web Addresses

By Jerry Garner

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has ruled against opening “.xxx” (dot xxx) domain names for use by pornographic web site. This is the third time ICANN has rejected the idea of using “.xxx” domain names, which are widely criticized by both religious groups and those who work in the adult entertainment industry.

For almost seven years, Stewart Lawley and his Florida based company, ICM Registry LLC, has petitioned ICANN to develop a “.xxx” domain extension. Lawley envisioned his company has overseeing all web sites that used the pornographic extension, creating a virtual red light district on the internet. Lawley’s proposal, however, met stiff criticism by religious groups and the adult industry alike.

Adult entertainment web sites, while split on the issue, managed to muster strong opposition to the idea of a “.xxx” domain extension. While the proposal was purely a voluntary alternative, web site operators feared that it could open the door for some countries to force adult web sites to use the extension. Preferring to use a traditional “.com” web address, these companies expressed concerns about being cast into a wasteland if they were forced to use “.xxx” instead.

In contrast, religious groups were extremely vocal in their opposition to offering “.xxx” domains. However, the opposition from this community was based on fears that using “.xxx” domains could bring a degree of legitimacy to the adult entertainment industry.

ICANN voted 9-5 on Friday to deny the application that Lawley and his company had presented. Lawley’s petition had been twice revised since it’s original filing in 2000. His company boasts more than 76,000 pre-registrations for the domains, which Lawley sites as evidence that the internet supports the concepts, but opponents state is evidence of Lawley’s financial motivation.

"We are extremely disappointed by the board's action today," said Lawley, ICM's president and chief executive. "It is not supportable for any of the reasons articulated by the board, ignores the rules ICANN itself adopted for (new domains) and makes a mockery of ICANN bylaws' prohibition of unjustifiable discriminatory treatment."

After the vote was complete, ICANN members who voted against the “.xxx” domains said that one of the chief reasons why the application was declined was because it could have led to ICANN being put in a position of regulating content on the internet, which is a role ICANN does not wish to assume.

"I believe we have to guard very carefully against ICANN ever becoming a regulator in that sense," said board member Steve Goldstein.

Is this the end for the “.xxx” domain extension? Perhaps, but only time will tell. Having been denied three times now, Lawley has at least shown that he is persistent in his belief of creating a voluntary red light district on the internet.

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