.xxx is a proposed top-level domain (TLD) intended as a voluntary option for sexually explicit sites on the Internet. The name is inspired by the former MPAA and BBFC "X" rating, now commonly applied to pornographic movies as "XXX". ICANN announced in June 1, 2005 that .xxx would become a sponsored top-level domain similar to .aero, .travel, etc. but it was never implemented. On May 10, 2006, ICANN reversed its decision,^[1] and on March 30, 2007, ICANN rejected the .xxx proposal a third time^[2]. Image File history File links Icmregistry. ... A sponsored top-level domain is a generic top-level domain proposed by an independent agency, with that agency establishing and enforcing rules restricting the eligibility of registrants to use the TLD. For example, the . ... UDRP - Uniform Domain Name Resolution Policy A document used by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for the purpose of creating guidelines for use when disputes arise regarding the registration of internet names (domain names). ... A top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of an Internet domain name; that is, the letters which follow the final dot of any domain name. ... Sexually explicit material (video, photography, creative writing) presents sexual content without deliberately obscuring or censoring it. ... The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is a non-profit trade association formed to advance the interests of movie studios. ... The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is the organisation responsible for film classification (see Motion picture rating systems and History of British Film Certificates) within the United Kingdom. ... X-rated, X certificate, X classification or similar terms are labels for movies implying strong adult content, typically pornography or violence. ... Porn redirects here. ... ICANN headquarters ICANN (IPA /aɪkæn/) is the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A sponsored top-level domain is a generic top-level domain proposed by an independent agency, with that agency establishing and enforcing rules restricting the eligibility of registrants to use the TLD. For example, the . ... .aero is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) used on the Internets Domain Name System. ... .travel is a top-level domain approved by ICANN as a sponsored TLD in the second group of new TLD applications evaluated in 2004. ... is the 130th day of the year (131st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

As of 2005, there is an alternative implementation of .xxx by New.net, a private domain registration service unaffiliated with ICANN, via an alternative DNS root. Its future - including that of domain names previously registered with New.net - is uncertain in the wake of the ICANN-sanctioned TLD announcement. 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... New. ... In addition to the Internets main DNS root (currently consisting of 13 nominal root nameservers working in agreement with ICANN), several organizations operate alternate DNS roots (often referred to as alt roots). ...

Another unofficial .xxx TLD was previously available through the alternative DNS root system administered by the now-defunct AlterNIC. AlterNIC was an alternative DNS root founded by Eugene Kashpureff. ...

ICANN / ICM

A gTLD (generic top-level domain) for sexually explicit material was proposed as one tool for dealing with the conflict between those who wish to provide and access such material through the Internet, and those who wish to prevent access to it, either by children and adolescents, or by employees at their workplaces. A generic top-level domain (gTLD) is a top-level domain used (at least in theory) by a particular class of organization. ... “Children” redirects here. ... OK TEENAGERS ARE VIRGINS “Adolescent” redirects here. ...

Advocates of the idea argue that it will be easy for parents and employers to block the entire TLD, rather than using more complex and error-prone content-based filtering, without imposing any restrictions on those who wish to access it.

Critics of the idea argue that because there is no requirement for providers of explicit content to use the TLD, sexually explicit material will still be commonplace in other domains, making it ineffectual at restricting access, and simply creating a new "landrush" as registrants of .com domains hosting explicit material attempt to duplicate their registrations in the .xxx domain, competing with operators who hope to register desirable names unavailable in other TLDs. There is also concern that the existence of .xxx will lead to legislation making its use mandatory for sexually explicit material, leading to legal conflicts over the definition of "sexually explicit", free speech rights, and jurisdiction. RFC 3675, entitled ".sex Considered Dangerous" discusses some of these objections. Meanwhile, the United States Department of Commerce has objected to the creation of this domain in response to complaints that it would legitimize pornography.^[3] This has been backed by many conservative Christian groups in America such as the Family Association. The United States Department of Commerce is a Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. ...

Some of the objections to an .xxx domain (for instance the difficulty of legislating consistent world-wide morality) would be mitigated if the domain was a subdomain of a country-specific domain. As of May 2006, the "xxx.us" domain exists, and is for sale according to its WHOIS entry.^[4]

ICANN approved a proposal by ICM Registry, Inc. to implement .xxx as a sponsored top-level domain. ICM said it would charge $60/year for domains. The process for registrations was not immediately disclosed. In December 2005, discussions about the implementation of .xxx were taken off the agenda of ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee, placing its future in doubt; in its March 2006 meeting, the GAC formulated a letter of concern to the ICANN board about .xxx. A sponsored top-level domain is a generic top-level domain proposed by an independent agency, with that agency establishing and enforcing rules restricting the eligibility of registrants to use the TLD. For example, the . ...

Considering all this, the ICANN board revoked its approval on May 10, 2006.

However, the establishment of such a domain name remains possible, as United States Senators Max Baucus (D., Montana) and Mark Pryor (D., Arkansas) have proposed to mandate its creation through legislation; it's unclear how such legislation could place a binding obligation to establish .xxx on ICANN without jeopardizing the argument that ICANN is not a US-controlled body. The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Max Sieben Baucus (b. ... Mark Lunsford Pryor (born January 10, 1963) is a politician in Arkansas. ...

On January 5, 2007, ICANN put up for public comment a revised proposal^[5] following changes to the policy of the ICM registry including the policing of any site that signs up to use the .xxx registry. ^[6]. On March 30, 2007, ICANN rejected the .xxx proposal for the third time, citing that the board would did not want to get in the business of content regulation, especially when the definition of "pornography" varies by jurisdiction. Other groups have spoken out against the domain as well. Adult website owners feel the exclusive domain for their sites would turn adult websites into an "online ghetto." Religious leaders, on the other hand, fear it would "legitimize and expand" the number of adult websites. ICM was quoted as saying they would "likely" file a lawsuit against ICANN.^[7] is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

New.net

Accessing web sites which use .xxx domains registered in an alternative DNS root with New.net (and several other unofficial TLDs they manage) requires special client software, the use of a DNS server specifically configured to resolve these domains, or the addition of ".new.net" to the end of the Internet address. E-mail can be sent to these domains only by appending ".new.net" to the end of the address. New.net domains can only be registered through them or their affiliates. These factors have limited the popularity of their TLD, and it would likely be further marginalised by implementation of the ICANN-approved .xxx registry. The prior use of these domains might also result in trademark disputes over domains registered in the ICANN-approved registry. In addition to the Internets main DNS root (currently consisting of 13 nominal root nameservers working in agreement with ICANN), several organizations operate alternate DNS roots (often referred to as alt roots). ... New. ... In computing, a client is a system that accesses a (remote) service on another computer by some kind of network. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...

See also

• Free Speech Coalition
• Content-control software
• ICANN

The Free Speech Coalition is a trade association of the pornography and adult entertainment industry in the United States. ... DansGuardian blocking whitehouse. ... ICANN headquarters ICANN (IPA /aɪkæn/) is the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 192nd day of the year (193rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikinews has related news:

ICANN top-level .xxx domain name not dead yet

• ICM Registry site
• New.net site
• Net porn plan labelled 'obscene' at BBC News
• W3C: Why Using TLDs for Filtering is Ineffective, Harmful, and Unnecessary
• Internet agency nixes ‘.xxx’ Web addresses; Board members decide porn domains are more trouble than they’re worth
• ICANN Kills .xxx
• XXX TLD Revived