Applies for .Sex, .Porn and .Adult — ICM Registry

Firm applies for three adult top level domains.

ICM Registry, the same firm that launched the .xxx top level domain last year, disclosed today that it has applied for three adult related top level domains with ICANN: .SEX, .PORN and .ADULT.

Today is the last day firms can apply for fresh top level domains through ICANN’s program.

This is an interesting but savvy move on ICM’s part. ICM Registry founder Stuart Lawley has previously stated he didn’t think any firms would be able to get adult related strings like .porn through the application process. By applying, ICM puts itself in the process and can further scuttle competitors’ bids for the domains. And he’s thrown in a carrot: all .xxx domains registered by a certain cut off point will be reserved in .sex, .porn, and .adult for the .xxx registrant. They can pay a nominal fee to activate them. But no one else can register them.

I’m not sure how this proposal works to give ICM an advantage under the current applicant guidebook rules. But since these domains are likely to face government objections, the rulebook might be thrown out completely in awarding these domains — if they are awarded at all.