ICANN Rejects .XXX!

[Cyndalie]

The agency that sets the Internet addressing guidelines influencing how people navigate the Web defeated a proposal Friday to give adult Web sites their own ".xxx" domain.

Many in the adult-entertainment industry and religious groups alike had criticized the plan, which the Canadian government also warned this week could leave the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers in the tricky business of content regulation.

The 9-5 decision by ICANN's board came nearly seven years after the proposal was first floated by ICM Registry LLC. It was the third time ICANN has rejected such a bid. Paul Twomey, ICANN's chief executive, who had described the proposal this week as "clearly controversial, clearly polarizing" abstained from the vote but did not say why.

"We are extremely disappointed by the board's action today," said Stuart Lawley, ICM's president and chief executive. "It is not supportable for any of the reasons articulated by the board, ignores the rules ICANN itself adopted for the RFP (request for proposal), and makes a mockery of ICANN bylaws' prohibition of unjustifiable discriminatory treatment."

He added that ICM would pursue the matter further and when pressed by an Associated Press reporter if that could include a lawsuit against ICANN, Lawley said: "I would go so far as to say likely."

What is certain is that ICANN will no longer hear the proposal but that does not mean that an entirely new application could be drawn up and offered for consideration.

Nearly all of the board members who voted against approving the domain said they were concerned about the possibility that ICANN could find itself in the content regulation business if the domain name was approved. Others criticized that, saying ICANN should not block new domains over fears like that, noting that local, state and national laws could be used to decide what is pornographic and what is not. (Wanna bet?!)

http://www.poststar.com/articles/200.../d8o6fdko0.txt

[Way3]

Great News for now! Who knows when this will raise it's ugly head again! Thanks for sharing the article!

[Platinum Chris]

It will never be over. It will come up again and again unfortunately

[Relentless]

If it comes about it will be mandated by Congress and a required designation.... not pushed through by a private entity as a bogus "opt in" system.

[student4ever]

Originally Posted by Relentless

If it comes about it will be mandated by Congress and a required designation.... not pushed through by a private entity as a bogus "opt in" system.

I don't see congress being able to push it through ICANN since it's an international oversight committee. Parts of congress may want it, but they can only pass laws on one country. ICANN is taking heat from both sides of the issue on a global basis.

Personally, I think ICM will continue to try to push it through since they have too much invested already and see too many $$ signs if they can get it through.

If I recall, the vote was closer last time, so maybe ICANN is getting tired of this crap too...

[Evil Chris]

so it's done for good...

[Kenny B]

Originally Posted by Evil Chris

so it's done for good...

As done as a Quebec referendum, down for now but will come back again to stir shit up.

[TheLegacy]

kind of reminds me of that psycho ex girlfriend who just wont stop calling every few months. Someone should just tell Stuart Lawley that there are times that no means NO!!

[spideriux]

that is very good news