.sex

Status:	proposed
country:	International
Manager:	ICM Registry
Type:	Community gTLD
Category:	Lifestyle
Community TLD:	Adult Entertainment Community
More information:

.sex is a new generic top level domain name (gTLD) proposal under ICANN's new gTLD expansion program, which is intended for the use adult entertainment community.

Current Applicants

1. ICM Registry - The application for the domain name string was submitted by ICM Registry, operator of the .xxx gTLD. Stuart Lawley, CEO of the company, said that if the .sex TLD will be approved, all domain names registered under the .xxx gTLD will be grandfathered and matching names will be reserved under the .sex gTLD without any cost to owners of the domain names. However, a nominal fee will be charged if the owner of a particular reserved .sex domain name decides to activate and use it.
2. Internet Marketing Solutions Limited

There is also possible contention given Uniregistry's application for .sexy.

Previous Legislative Proposal on .Sex TLD

In 2005, Michael Smigiel Sr., a lawmaker from the State of Maryland proposed a bill to develop a .sex TLD, which shall be used by adult websites operating within the state in order to protect minors without violating anybody's constitutional rights.

Controversy and Objections

Christian group Morality In Media launched a letter-writing campaign in July 2012 against ICM's three new TLD applications, .adult, .sex, and .porn. The group also protested against .xxx, ICM's original TLD. The group claims that its prediction about .xxx, that it would create more porn and not less, has been vindicated, as porn sites under the .com TLD have not moved to .xxx, and additional new sites have been created under the .xxx extension. With its campaign, MIM asked the U. S. Government and Congress and ICANN to take action against the spread of porn under the Internet by not allowing the three new TLDs into the root zone.

Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) filed an objection against the TLD, on the grounds that it would increase the proliferation of pornographic material on the Internet.

European Commission Objection

The European Commission objected to the application for .bio outside of ICANN's defined remediation processes.

Just after ICANN's GAC issued its Early Warnings, which are advice given from one GAC member country to an applicant warning it of potential issues within its application, the European Commission issued a letter to all applicants within the new gTLD program. The letter highlights 58 applications that "could raise issues of compatibility with the existing legislation .. and/or with policy positions and objectives of the European Union." It notes a desire to open a dialogue with each offending applicant.

The Commission specifically notes that this objection is not a part of the GAC Early Warning process, and goes on to note that "the Commission does not consider itself legally bound to [ICANN] processes," given that there is not legal agreement between the two bodies.

Top-Level Domain

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).