To get a .xxx suffix, adult-orientated web sites would need to
adhere to a set of industry best practices.
The domain would have a sponsor: non-profit group the
International Foundation for Online Responsibility. The group says
that it hopes .xxx will help to protect children from exposure to
internet porn while also having a positive impact on adult
entertainment through voluntary efforts of the industry.
"We are pleased with the ICANN Board's decision," said Stuart
Lawley, Chairman and President of ICM Registry, which will operate
the domain.
"By moving forward with .xxx, the on-line adult-entertainment
industry is taking part in a pro-active approach to its presence on
the internet, making an identifiable commitment to responsible
behaviour and to the development of best business practices," he
added.
The proposed .xxx domain, has been the most controversial of the
10 applications originally submitted to ICANN in March 2004, but
has garnered support from the adult-entertainment industry and also
some child protection groups.
According to Parry Aftab, Executive Director of WiredKids.com
and the Wired Safety Group, "Creating the .xxx top-level domain
gives parents a valuable tool to protect their children from
inappropriate content on the internet. It isn't a complete solution
but it is a very important step in the right direction."
The domain joins five other applications out of the original 10
to reach this stage of the process: .mobi, .cat, .post, .jobs and
.travel.
Final approval is still not guaranteed and, after the technical
and commercial negotiations that make up the second stage of the
application procedure, only .jobs, a domain for the human resources
sector, and .travel, for the travel industry, have been formally
approved so far.
The remaining applications relate to the proposed domains .asia,
.mail, and .tel (two applications made by separate
organisations).
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