ICANN approves dot-xxx domains

ICANN, the nonprofit organization that oversees Internet addresses, yesterday approved a new ".xxx" top-level domain for adult content. The new dot-xxx domains should be available within a year, priced at $60 per year.

This is a dumb idea. ICANN had it right five years ago when they rejected proposals for dot-xxx domains.

The new domain suffix will hold little appeal for pornsite operators. Dot-com is still the only top-level domain with broad public recognition. The $60 price tag is ridiculous, when dot-com domains can cost less than $10 per year. Some porn webmasters will experiment with dot-xxx sites, but no one is going to shut down an established dot-com site and "switch" to dot-xxx.

Of course, this assumes that dot-xxx remains a voluntary alternative. Congress will inevitably try to force a mass industry switch to dot-xxx, banning or restricting adult content on dot-com domains. This will be hyped as a way to "protect the children" by people with no clue how the internet works. Legal challenges will put the law on hold, and five years later it will be declared unconstitutional.

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