New .XXX Domains Finally on General Sale

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Get your .XXX domain now.

Today is the day you can finally get your own .XXX domain. ICM Registry, the official registry of the new adult entertainment top-level domain (TLD), is today celebrating the beginning of general availability of .XXX domain names. Aimed at purveyors of adult content, the new TLD is being touted as a 'responsible alternative' for hosting adult content and related services. It also provides a more regulated and secure environment for online payments and makes it extremely easy for schools and parents to block porn on computers frequently used by children.

However, not all adult entertainment are squirming with excitement at the idea of a .XXX domain. While no company is under pressure to switch to a .XXX domain, many feel obligated to purchase the relevant .XXX domain in order to protect themselves from cyber squatters. In fact, YouPorn owner Manwin Licensing International SARL has filed a lawsuit accusing ICM Registry of "monopolistic conduct, price gouging, and anticompetitive and unfair practice." Manwinn Licensing International, which owns many different sites and manages Playboy's web presence as well as that of Digital Playground, says that with an annual fee of $60 a pop, the new domains are costly, especially if you have countless brands and websites that each need their own address. Speaking to the BBC, Lawley said that the lawsuits are without merit and claimed .XXX pricing "was comparable with other niche providers." 

"There are economies of scale here, bear in mind that .com sells 100 million names a year," he told the BBC, adding that ICM plans to "contest [the lawsuits] vigorously."

Jane McEntegart

Jane McEntegart works in marketing communications at Intel and was previously Manager of Content Marketing at ASUS North America. Before that, she worked for more than seven years at Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware, holding such roles as Contributing Editor and Senior News Editor and writing about everything from smartphones to tablets and games consoles.

14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • digitalzom-b
    I for one have no problem with them making it easier for me...

    Allows society to separate their problems without really changing anything. What I'm concerned about is them making this necessary, and forcing certain domains to change to .xxx because they contain pornographic material, potentially losing their name in the process when really they're not full on pornography -- e.g. wallbase.cc haha.

    Probably won't happen, but something to be concerned about.
    Reply
  • rawful
    How about some real news like info on the Radeon HD 7xxx series?
    Reply
  • soo-nah-mee
    rawfulHow about some real news like info on the Radeon HD 7xxx series?I hope that was a pun. (xxx)
    Reply
  • LORD_ORION
    tomshardware.xxx/holiday-gift-guide

    :D
    Reply
  • digitalzom-b
    rawfulHow about some real news like info on the Radeon HD 7xxx series?
    Real news?! I think you need to straighten out your priorities. This is VERY important.
    Reply
  • win7guru
    Well if they don't want to pay the money I will gladly buy the site and have them purchase it from me later.
    Reply
  • cool, now porn can be blocked more easily
    Reply
  • Skippy27
    Cybersquatting is not allowed and the loophole that many use to get around that needs to be addressed as well.

    I personally think all PORN should be forced to move to this domain. Then it is still available to anyone that wants it and it can still be prevented (and more easily) by those that need to restrict access to it.

    As far as someone registering a site that has the same name as another company: Trademarks are trademarks so they can't be used by anyone else regardless. Generic names are generic names, if you want it then purchase it and stop whinning as it is the cost of doing business. You want a thousand generic names, then you pay the fee 1000x's.
    Reply
  • rubix_1011
    LORD_ORIONtomshardware.xxx/holiday-gift-guide

    This is fantastic. Nice work... :)
    Reply
  • Camikazi
    Skippy27Cybersquatting is not allowed and the loophole that many use to get around that needs to be addressed as well.I personally think all PORN should be forced to move to this domain. Then it is still available to anyone that wants it and it can still be prevented (and more easily) by those that need to restrict access to it.As far as someone registering a site that has the same name as another company: Trademarks are trademarks so they can't be used by anyone else regardless. Generic names are generic names, if you want it then purchase it and stop whinning as it is the cost of doing business. You want a thousand generic names, then you pay the fee 1000x's.I personally think that all religious websites should be moved to their own domain so I can easily block them as well but that most likely won't happen and if they won't do it for all they shouldn't do it for any.
    Reply