.xxx (known as "dot triple-X") is a sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) intended as a voluntary option for pornographic sites on the Internet. The ICANN Board voted to approve the sTLD on 18 March 2011. It went into operation on April 15 2011.
The registry is operated by ICM. The sponsoring organization is the International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR).
Background
The .xxx name is inspired by the former MPAA and BBFC "X" rating, now commonly applied to pornographic movies as "XXX".
A gTLD (generic top-level domain) for sexually explicit material was proposed as one tool for dealing with the conflict between those who wish to provide and access such material through the Internet, and those who wish to prevent access to it, either by children and adolescents, or by employees at their workplaces.
Advocates of the idea argue that it will be easier for parents and employers to block the entire TLD, rather than using more complex and error-prone content-based filtering, without imposing any restrictions on those who wish to access it.[4] Editors of explicit content sites are also afraid that the use of a single gTLD like .xxx would also make it easier for search engines to block all of their content.[5]
Critics of the idea argue that because there is no requirement for providers of explicit content to use the TLD, sexually explicit material will still be commonplace in other domains, making it ineffectual at restricting access, and simply creating a new "landrush" as registrants of .com domains hosting explicit material attempt to duplicate their registrations in the .xxx domain, competing with operators who hope to register desirable names unavailable in other TLDs. There is also concern that the existence of .xxx will lead to legislation making its use mandatory for sexually explicit material, leading to legal conflicts over the definition of "sexually explicit", free speech rights, and jurisdiction.
ICANN / ICM
The .XXX TLD was first proposed in 2000 by ICM Registry and resubmitted in 2004, but it faced strong opposition from politicians and conservative groups.
ICANN announced on June 1, 2005 a preliminary approval of .xxx as an sTLD similar to .aero, .travel, etc. ICM said it would charge $60/year for domains. In December 2005, discussions about the implementation of .xxx were taken off the agenda of ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), placing its future in doubt. In its March 2006 meeting, the GAC formulated a letter of concern to the ICANN board about .xxx. On May 10, 2006, ICANN reversed the approval.[8] On January 6, 2007, ICANN put up for public comment a revised proposal[9] following changes to the policy of the ICM registry including the policing of any site that signs up to use the .xxx registry.[10] On March 30, 2007, the ICANN board again rejected the .xxx proposal for the third time.
On 6 June 2008, in accordance with ICANN bylaws, ICM filed an application for an independent review challenging ICANN's decision, and in September 2009, a live hearing was held in Washington DC, where both sides submitted documentary evidence and witness testimony. on February 19, 2010 ICANN's Independent Review Panel (IRP) issued its findings. The Panel found that the application for the ".XXX sTLD met the required sponsorship criteria," and that "the Board’s reconsideration of that finding was not consistent with the application of neutral, objective and fair documented policy".At the ICANN meeting in Nairobi in March 2010 the board resolved to consider "process options". A 45 day public comment was opened on March 26, 2010. At the Brussels ICANN meeting in June 2010, the ICANN board resolved to restart the process, including renewed due diligence and GAC consultations.
On 18 March 2011, ICANN's board approved the execution of the registry agreement with ICM for the .xxx sponsored top level domain. The vote was 9 in favor, 4 against, with 3 abstentions.
ICM is expected to make over $200 million a year, with 3 to 5 million domain registrations, as companies are anticipated to defensively register their domains.
Alternative implementations
Since 2005, there has been an alternative implementation of .xxx by New.net, a private domain registration service unaffiliated with ICANN, via an alternative DNS root. Its future ? including that of domain names previously registered with New.net ? is uncertain in the wake of the ICANN-sanctioned TLD announcement.
Another unofficial .xxx TLD was previously available through the alternative DNS root system administered by the now-defunct AlterNIC.
Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.xxx