.XXX modifies domain matching program for fresh adult TLDs

ICM Registry shortens window for claiming matching domain names due to ICANN requirements.

ICM Registry, the firm behind .xxx and the soon-to-be-released .porn and .adult domain names, disclosed today a modified domain name matching program for .xxx domain name owners.

Previously, the firm planned to reserve any domain names registered in .xxx in its fresh top level domain names so they could be registered by the .xxx owner. Still, ICANN would not allow ICM Registry to “hold” these domain names due to rights protection mechanisms.

As a result, ICM’s fresh plan creates a thirty day Limited Registration Period following sunrise ends. This is essentially the domain matching period, and .xxx owners will have to register their .adult and .porn domain names during this 30 day window in order to take advantage of the matching program.

It’s a bit ironic: rights protections requirements in fresh TLDs are weakening what is essentially a rights protection program.

ICM Registry isn’t the only one running into problems with ICANN contracting over its plans to reserve domain names under a grandfathering program. This is apparently the hold up on Verisign’s contracts for transliterations of .com; they want to be able to hold domains matching existing .com domains for the .com owner to claim.

The matching period for .xxx domain names will be April 15 to May 15, 2015.

ICM Registry made additional protection concessions in its contract with ICANN to run the fresh top level domain names.