.xxx proposal AGAIN

Forgive me if this has been covered recently, but I just checked the ICANN site and about a week ago, they apparently had a meeting at which they published, yet again, a revision of ICM's proposal to run the .xxx registry for ICANN.

I honestly believe it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that anyone who cares about their First Amendment rights as they relate to online adult entertainment send a comment to ICANN (xxx-icm-agreement@icann.org ) Your comment will be published on ICANN's website.

For those of you not aware of the situation, ICM is talking out of both sides of its mouth, telling the anti-porn forces that .xxx will "help prevent children from being exposed to pornography" and "keep those who don't want porn from accidentally running into it" while at the same time telling adult webmasters that ".xxx will always be voluntary."

Obviously, these two statements are totally opposed to one another.

In the best case, .xxx will simply be another top level domain that all of us will have to register our key .com domain names in to keep cybersquatters or others from acquiring them... at a minimum cost of about 60 bucks per year per domain, because ICM will be charging all of the registrars close to that much as the "wholesale" registration fee.

In the worst case, various state, local, governmental authorities could decide that all adult content must under a .xxx domain or risk violating some law or regulation. Such policies would undoubtedly trigger a first amendment fight, but as we know, the loser conservatives have an amazing way of getting their agenda pushed through. Another scenario would have Visa or Mastercard declaring that they will not process for any adult content unless it is on an .xxx domain. This would be harder to defend on a First Amendment basis, as Visa is not restricting speech, only commerce.

So... I hope that you can see this is NOT an issue that anyone should be sitting back and saying "Let others carry the ball." I very strongly recommend that you write to ICANN telling them that the adult industry opposes .xxx, that you personally oppose it, that it will not reduce children's access to adult content, and any other relevant points you wish to make.

ICANN does listen, and a number of its governing representatives are on record opposing .xxx, but ICM has hundreds of thousands of dollars into this proposal, and stands to make millions if it passes, so they will not give up easily. If you operate an adult site, or provide services to those who do, you cannot sit back and not take action.

The new deadline for comments is March 9th.

Ok, so we write and say we don't like it. What then? What's to stop them saying "Well, tough shit!"

I mean what can we actually do about it? Genuine question, not an attempt to be negative.
Blum

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Originally Posted by blumblumshub

Ok, so we write and say we don't like it. What then? What's to stop them saying "Well, tough shit!"

I mean what can we actually do about it? Genuine question, not an attempt to be negative.
Blum

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Nothing really, however if you read the minutes when they sent it back for clarification by the company pushing it, they do seem to take notice and one thing that did stand out to me in reading their minutes of the last meeting, is that they need to know that the ADULT side is not supportive as the proposed company claims.

It seems to me that this company claims to have the full support of 24 MAJOR adult industry players... Wish they would say WHO they are, so I can make sure and NOT support them.

There is no doubt they do take notice, so it really is essential to voice your opinion, clearly and without rancor.

:coffee:

Email them at ICANN XXX

After reading some of the comments on the ICANN pages - I am thoroughly disappointed with the human race.

Its a shame that people would be so quick throw away other peoples constitutional rights so that they can continue to neglect their parental duties.

As apposed to personally monitoring what their children do or see - they want the government to do it for them.

Truly bummed me out

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Originally Posted by gaystoryman

if you read the minutes when they sent it back for clarification by the company pushing it, they do seem to take notice and one thing that did stand out to me in reading their minutes of the last meeting, is that they need to know that the ADULT side is not supportive as the proposed company claims.

It seems to me that this company claims to have the full support of 24 MAJOR adult industry players... Wish they would say WHO they are, so I can make sure and NOT support them.

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The story floating around is that there are backdoor deals with the 24 companies such that these companies will get a large selection of choice domain names in exchange for their support.

One of the things I suggested to ICANN was that very strict rules be put in place preventing this sort of sandbagging, and if it is discovered, that something be put into the ICANN agreement that would take the registry away from ICM entirely.

But... the ICANN board is clearly looking at the lack of industry support. THAT IS WHY IT IS SOOOOO CRUCIAL THAT *EVERY* PERSON READING THIS TAKE 5 MINUTES AND POST THEIR OPPOSITION. Several people (at least) on the ICANN board are very straight shooters who want what's best for the Net. If we continue to convince these people that we as an industry do not want .xxx, it is likely they will turn it down.

What I find a really saddening issue is that the .xxx seems to be an US-american one as of now.

I was searching the German boards and found next to no opposition to .xxx nor a proposition for it - its just no issue at all.

If somebody could rephrase a letter fo ICANN for me I would be more than happy to send it - I'm just not too well in phrasing something formally correct


DEVELISH

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Originally Posted by DEVELISH

What I find a really saddening issue is that the .xxx seems to be an US-american one as of now.

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May I suggest that you write a simple summary statement in English and include your full German statement. I am sure they have translators available.