.XXX top level domain goes live

Global web domain authority the IANA has added the .XXX “sponsored” top level domain (sTLD) to its root nameservers on Friday, according to the organisation's records. 

The names sex.xxx and porn.xxx resolved under the new TLD for the first time on Friday, DomainName News reported over the weekend. 

These and the website of the newest top level domains  registrar, ICL Registry, now resolve under .XXX. 

ICANN had approved the .XXX adult content domain in March after seven years of debate and despite opposition from its Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC). The regulator initially approved ICL Registry's application for the TLD in 2005.

The Australian Government had opposed .XXX, arguing that it would not segregate porn but duplicate it since these websites would remain on .com.

Last October, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told ICANN that there was a “lack of identified public benefit” from the TLD.

The wholesale price for .XXX domains will be higher than other TLDs at US$60. According to ICM Registry spokesperson Greg Dumas, it could offer higher protections against malware threats than .com sites. 

ICL claimed in a Twitter update to have almost 600,000 pre-registrations. 

The company has established three routes to reserving a .XXX domain. Those inside the adult industry can reserve a name for fixed or indefinite period, while the third route will be for outsiders that want to block a name from being used. This type of customer would secure a “blocked name”. 

A likely source of revenue for ICM Registry will occur in the event that two applicants have applied for the same name. It plans to settle such conflicts by holding a “mini-auction” between approved applicants.