Categories: Web

.XXX domains go on sale today, brands and celebrities given chance to block certain addresses

.XXX domains go on sale today

ICM Registry, the body responsible for managing the new .xxx adult entertainment domain, has today begun to allow brands, celebrities and public figure to secure their .xxx domains, marking the beginnings of the so-called ‘online red light district’.

It’s hoped that .xxx domains will allow users “to surf porn safely” as the .xxx TLD (top-level domain) effectively verifies the legality of the site’s content, while also making it easier to parents, guardians and various institutes to filter out pornographic content.

ICM Registry is allowing brands and public figures up to 50 days to claim their domain as a means of guarding against cybersquatters. A one-off fee of around $200 will allow companies, celebrities and politicians to safeguard against domains like google.xxx, georgiasalpa.xxx or endakenny.xxx being used.

More than 4,000 celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, have already had their .xxx addresses blocked by ICM Registry. A further 15,000 .xxx domains have been blocked at the request of international governments and child protection groups.

After an initial 50-day period, a further 17 days is assigned for the exclusive selling of .xxx domains to those involved in the adult entertainment industry. Around 1,500 .xxx domains have already been scooped up by 35 different porn companies ahead of the TLD’s public launch on December 6th. ICM Registry are hopeful that 500,000 domain names will be sold by February 2012.

The .xxx domain is the first such TLD to be approved by ICANN since .CO in July 2010.

Image courtesy of Ryan Christopher VanWilliams on Flickr

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

View Comments

  • Good blog you've got here.. It's hard to find quality writing
    like yours these days. I really appreciate people like
    you! Take care!!

Recent Posts

‘A digital pandemic is a plausible scenario’: ITU flagship report

The ITU digital pandemic scenario is like the sequel to Cyber Polygon -- prepping for…

5 hours ago

One Way Summit returns to San Francisco with expanded format and star-studded speaker lineup 

One Way Ventures has announced the dates and lineup for the second edition of the…

2 days ago

AIM 2026 opens with Chris Schembra, Barbara Corcoran and Get Covered unpacking the apartment industry’s AI moment and more

Interest in the apartment industry is reaching fever pitch as author Chris Schembra, mogul Barbara…

4 days ago

Is LinkedIn Tracking Your Browser Activity? Here’s What’s Behind It

Let’s take a closer look at ‘Browsergate’: is LinkedIn really running the biggest corporate espionage…

6 days ago

Techstars Startup Weekend bets on Valencia as a next European startup launchpad

Valencia’s tech ecosystem is getting a big win this June 12-14 as Techstars Startup Weekend announces…

6 days ago

Why enterprises keep getting AI wrong – and what it actually takes to get it right 

In the upper floors of corporate America, budgets are larger than ever, board presentations are…

1 week ago