Porn domain .xxx finally gets green light from Icann

After a near 10-year struggle to have its .xxx top level domain for web sites displaying adult content approved, registry ICM has finally been given the go-ahead by internet oversight body Icann.

The body said at a San Francisco meeting on Friday that its board voted nine to three in favour of the new domain, and would now enter a Registry Agreement with ICM in the same form as the one previously posted for comment in August 2010.

Icann gave the plan its tentative approval last year, but has been consulting on the application since.

The plans to create a top level .xxx domain have been around for the best part of 10 years, and Icann originally gave its approval in 2005, but subsequently withdrew that decision after heavy lobbying by right wing religious groups.

However, ICM complained and an appeals panel ruled that Icann's decision to deny approval was erroneous.

"This decision represents a difficult, careful balance, weighing the extensive community advice for and against the registry agreement, as well as maintaining adherence to proper and documented process," noted a draft Icann document released on Friday.

"ICM's inaugural implementation of the Independent Review Process [IRP], and careful review of how to consider the outcome of that IRP, has challenged Icann in many ways, however the result is decision grounded in extensive review and deliberation."

Despite ICM's claiming to have over 100,000 pre-registrations for domains, it remains to be seen how successful the scheme will be.

Religious groups are warning that it will legitimise and encourage the spread of pornographic content, while some factions of the adult entertainment industry have argued that it would add unnecessary extra cost and bureaucracy.