Related .XXX Links
A Brief History of .XXX
On June 1, 2005, The Internet Corporation for Assigned names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that it had provisionally approved the creation of a .XXX top-level domain (TLD), beginning what was expected to be the final phase of a process that began in 2000, when Jason Hendeles of ICM Registry first submitted an application to create and control an adult TLD. That first application was not accepted by ICANN, but in 2004, Hendeles, with a new business plan and a new partner, Stuart Lawley, tried again, and this time they got the approval of ICANN, subject to contractual requirements.
There were two main differences between the 2000 and 2004 applications submitted to ICANN by ICM Registry. First, the 2004 application, unlike the 2000 version, was for a sponsored top-level domain, which required ICM Registry establish significant support within the industry for the creation of .XXX. Second, unlike 2000, the 2004 application proposed a supporting non-profit organization, The International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR), which would be responsible for setting all policies for .XXX domains, and administered by a seven-member Board of Directors comprised of people from within and without the adult industry. According to an IFFOR organizational chart, one seat would be reserved for a representative from the adult industry; the rest would be reserved for representatives of various stakeholder groups.
A contract codifying the agreement between ICANN and ICM Registry was prepared, and was to be signed by both parties in mid-August, 2005. According to a timetable contained in the contract, .XXX domains would be available for registration six months from the signing of the contract, or February 2006. The signing of the contract did not take place.
On August 11, 2005, Michael D. Gallagher, Assistant Secretary for the Commerce Department, wrote a letter to Dr. Vinton Cerf of ICANN, informing him that Commerce had received 6000 letter and emails from people objecting to .XXX, mostly the result of Christian conservative letter-writing campaigns. He urged the Board to “ensure that the concerns of all members of the Internet community on this issue have been adequately heard and resolved,” and suggested that additional time be allocated so that concerns could be voiced and addressed.
On August 12, 2005, Mohd Sharil Tarmizi, the chairman of ICANN’s Government Advisory Committee (GAC), a supporting group whose key role is to provide advice to ICANN on issues of public policy, sent a letter to the ICANN Board of Directors in which he stated that “…there remains a strong sense of discomfort in the GAC about the TLD, notwithstanding the explanations to date,” and suggested that final approval be delayed until “additional governmental and public policy concerns” could be addressed.
On August 15, Stuart Lawley of ICM Registry wrote a letter to Dr. Paul Twomey, CEO of ICANN, in which he acknowledge the concerns expressed by Gallagher and Tarmizi, and agreed to a one month extension until the September 15 Board meeting.
On August 16, 2005, ICANN deferred a decision on .XXX to its September 15 meeting.
Related Links
FightthedotXXX.com
www.fightthedotxxx.com
Adult-Related TLDs Considered Dangerous
http://www.circleid.com/article/530_0_1_0_C/
Technology Liberation Front
http://www.techliberation.com/archives/2005_08.php
Family Research Council opposes .XXX domain (June 3, 2005)
http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR05F01
Letter from Larry Flynt Opposing .XXX TLD.
