The idea for a new Top Level Domain name .xxx just like .com, for porn has been around for several years and rejected three times - but an Internet ruling body is once again considering this porn domain.

Oddly enough most pornography businesses and anti-pornography groups are on the same side of this issue.  Though they have different reasons, both sides have concerns about the new domain.  The real driver for this project is the domain registrars who hope to make lots of money selling the .xxx domain names.

.XXX History

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ICANN) oversees the allocation of internet addresses globally and once again considered the .xxx domain at this week's meeting in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. The idea did not pass but rather than being rejected, the decision was pushed off to its June meeting.  In addition, ICANN's CEO and chief counsel were given two weeks to prepare recommendations on how to proceed with the .xxx proposal. These recommendations will then be open to comment for 45 days.

The proposal to create the adult-oriented extension .xxx domain was first officially made in 2000 however it has been rejected three times by ICANN.  There has been a great deal of discussion between ICANN and ICM Registry, the private company which is the primary force behind this plan. The reason for this recent  discussion in Kenya was that in response to complaints from ICM Registry, an outside panel questioned ICANN's grounds for the latest rejection in 2007. An independent review panel earlier this year ruled that ICANN did not follow its own policies and procedures when it refused to proceed with the .XXX extension.

.XXX Opposition

Anti-porn activists worry that the creation of a virtual red-light district would serve as an endorsement of the adult-entertainment industry. Also, because use would be voluntary, the ".xxx" suffix wouldn't keep such content entirely away from minors.

On the other side of the business, pornography vendors don't have much love for this idea as they will be the ones forking over the money to the domain registrars.  And given all the traffic they get and money they have invested in branding, they are unlikely to voluntarily give up their current .com domain names.

.XXX Future

Proponents of the plan claim that with porn sites ending in .xxx it will be easier to keep porn away from minors and internet users who stumble on pornography online.  But, unless ICANN has the teeth to kick these porn merchants off of the .com domain - that really won't work.

We'll see what the next ICANN meeting in brings.  If approved, there will be a massive "land" rush to get domain names which will line the pockets of registrars like ICM.