About .XXX

What Is .XXX?

The adult industry has been a substantial part of the Internet since its inception. As the domain name system has dramatically expanded, it has become increasingly difficult to identify what individual websites offer without actually visiting them. This is where the value of the .XXX extension can be put to use.

Despite a large online market for Adult Entertainment, large segments of society do not wish to come into contact with its content. .XXX provides both willing consumers of Adult Entertainment and those who wish to avoid it, with an easily identifiable mark — the end of the Web address.

Whether, you are associated with the Adult Industry or you are an intellectual property or trademark holder interested in protecting your brand, now is the time to pre-register for your .XXX domain name.

The ICANN Board approved the .XXX TLD on March 18, 2011, which went into operation on 15th April 2011. The .XXX registry is operated by ICM Registry. The organization that sponsors this is the International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR). The .XXX TLD was proposed in 2000 by the ICM Registry. ICM is expected to make over $200 million a year with nearly 3 to 5 million domain registrations.

.XXX FAQ

1. Who can apply?
2. When will the .XXX domain be available?
3. What are the charges associated with reserving a .XXX domain?
   
4. Will the applications be confidential?
   
5. How can one buy a .XXX domain?
6. How many names can one submit for a reservation request?
7. Are there any specific names which are not available for the reservation?
   
8. How can one check the availability of a particular domain name?
   
9. Should one hold a name in another TLD to request a reservation for the name?
10. Does owning the trademark mean that the domain name is guaranteed?
11. How can applicants make sure that the listed name will be owned by them?
12. What would happen if the owners of the same string in different TLDs apply for the pre-owned names?
13. How can one know their status of application?

1. Who can apply?

   Members of the Sponsored Community, i.e., the Online Adult Entertainment Industry are eligible to register for domains in .XXX. Members who are not from the Adult Industry may only apply for Sunrise B names, which will not resolve.

2. When will the .XXX domain be available?

   The .XXX domain registrations are expected to be available from summer 2011.

3. What are the charges associated with reserving a .XXX domain?

   There will be no charge for the reservation, but when the domains are available we will set the own retail price as per the TLD standards.

4. Will the applications be confidential?

   The ICM Registry will maintain the confidentiality of any information received in the reservation request period.

5. How can one buy a .XXX domain?

   The .XXX domain can be purchased from the accredited domain registrars, such as NamesBeyond.

6. How many names can one submit for a reservation request?

   Community members who have registered for domain names in the adult industry prior to 1st February 2010, can qualify for the Grandfathered Sunrise period. Intellectual Property owners, who are not the members of the Sponsored Community, may apply for the names for which they have the Trademark rights in the Sunrise B period.

7. Are there any specific names which are not available for the reservation?

   The registry operators are obligated to set aside a number of names designated by ICANN. In addition, ICM Registry will also set aside certain Geographic and culturally significant names, as well as the number of names to be allocated only by a request-for-proposal method.

8. How can one check the availability of a particular domain name?

   NamesBeyond does not offer any particular method for checking the availability of names. So applicants are requested to reserve the names and they will be notified when granted.

9. Should one hold a name in another TLD to request a reservation for the name?

   In order to use the reservation request process for Pre-Owned names (Grandfathered names), an applicant must hold the registration for the requested name in another .XXX top level Domain like .com, or a .net domain registered prior to Feb 1, 2010.

10. Does owning the trademark mean that the domain name is guaranteed?

    Many trademarks can exist in different jurisdictions for the same string depending on the use. However, the Rapid Takedown and Start up Trademark opposition (STOP) will allow the IP owners to be notified so that they can challenge the infringing registration.

11. How can applicants make sure that the listed name will be owned by them?

    All applicants are required to certify their eligibility by submitting corresponding requests. ICM Registry will contact the registered owner of the names listed and verify the rights to register before allocating the .XXX name to the applicant. If the applicant does not own any domain in another TLD, then the request will be cancelled by ICM Registry. ICM also reserves the right to cancel the entire reservation request if any fraudulent act is encountered.

12. What would happen if the owners of the same string in different TLDs apply for the pre-owned names?

    In most cases there will be more than one applicant eligible to reserve a particular string in .XXX domain. In such a case, the ICM will decide to allocate the name in an equitable manner which will be more or less like a mini-auction. However, this will not prevent any party from exercising any Intellectual Property rights.

13. How can one know their status of application?

    The ICM Registry will analyze all the applications during the closing stage of the reservation and sunrise period and will determine who has the first right to register a name. The successful candidate will be informed and given an electronic token to use as an evidence of that right while registering through an ICANN accredited registrar. There would also be several webmasters who apply and reserve the same domain name; in this case it would take a little longer to resolve the claim within one month of the closure of the industry reservation and sunrise period. In case the reservation request is successful, then the applicant is required to get the authentication and verification done for eligibility purpose before the name is assigned to them.