.XXX Domain Names

Safeguarding your rights

What is .XXX?

After many delays and objections, the ICM Registry has been approved to operate the Top Level Domain ".XXX" for the Adult Entertainment Industry. For those brand owners not in the Adult Entertainment Industry, ICM Registry has announced a protection mechanism so that brand names might be safeguarded without the need to register and renew a domain name.

  • .XXX is designed to cater for members of the adult entertainment industry or who are supplying products or services to that industry.
  • However, existing trademark owners operating outside of the adult entertainment industry sector will have the opportunity to apply to block a .XXX from being registered during Sunrise B for a once-off fee.
  • If an individual or brand owner, does not have a trademark, then they will have the opportunity to register a .XXX domain for defensive purposes, during the final phase of General availability (first come, first serve). Domain name will not resolve.

 

Why register .XXX?

Brand owners concerned with their brand being associated with this domain have two options for brand protection. Companies are advised to consider both as a protection strategy.

  1. Sunrise B - From September 7-October 28, brand owners outside of the adult entertainment industry can apply to block* registration of verified marks for a one-time fee. A matching, eligible** trademark is required. No WHOIS data will be displayed.
  2. General Availability - From December 6, brand owners can apply to register their desired, non-verified domains (no trademark registration required) on a first-come first-served basis. The domain will not resolve but will return an NX domain result. Names registered during general availability will need to be renewed per the standard registration policy. WHOIS will display the registrant details.

The launch of .XXX will be conducted in four phases. The ICM Registry has recently published an updated timetable which is now as follows:

  • Sunrise A:

    7th September 2011, 4:00AM (NZST) - 28th October 2011, 5:00AM (NZDT)

    For members of the sponsored community (adult entertainment) that have verifiable trademark rights and/or already own exact matching domains in other TLDs.

  • Sunrise B:

    7th September 2011, 4:00AM (NZST) - 28th October 2011, 5:00AM (NZDT)

    For non-member trademark holders to permanently block their marks in the .XXX TLD.

  • Landrush:

    8th November 2011, 5:00AM (NZDT) - 25th November 2011, 5:00AM (NZDT)

    For members of the sponsored community.

  • General Availability:

    6th December 2011, 5:00AM (NZDT) onwards

Domainz is only assisting companies for the Sunrise B and General Availability phases for defensive registrations (non-resolving domains).

Sunrise B

.XXX 'Sunrise B' phase closes:
28th October, 2011

For non-member trademark holders to permanently block their marks in the .XXX TLD.

Only registered owners or assignees of trademarks will be eligible to apply during Sunrise B. For the purpose of Sunrise B Eligibility, the registered trademark shall be a trade or service mark registration of national or regional international effect issued prior to 1 Sept. 2011**.

There are two application types: validated trademark and non-validated trademark. All applications will undergo a validation process by ICM Registry or its validation agent prior to being approved. Domainz is providing a validation service to assist you to check certain details of the trademark you are relying on for early detection of potential issues which may arise in use of your trademark in your application.

A successful application to block a domain name by a single qualified applicant during Sunrise B will be designated reserved (blocked domain name). Blocked domain names will resolve to a standard plain webpage indicating the domain is reserved from use through ICM Registry's rights protection program.

Sunrise A applications will take precedence over Sunrise B. If there is an application during Sunrise A by a member of the sponsored community for the same name applied for during Sunrise B, both applicants will be notified, giving the Sunrise A application the opportunity to withdraw their application. Resolution will be per existing dispute proceedings (UDRP).

In the event there is more than one qualified applicant in Sunrise B (for blocking trademark) the name will be reserved in the same manner as if a sole applicant. There will be no refund or apportioning of fees.

** ICM Registry has placed restrictions on the use of certain registered trademarks for blocking reservations e.g. trademarks that include .XXX as either a portion of a textual registered trademark or a graphical or compound registered trademark.

General Availability

.XXX 'General Availability' phase opens:
6th December, 2011

Open to Everyone. Non-resolving domain names only.

Brand owners can apply to register their desired domains without a trademark required on a first-come first-served basis. The domain will not resolve but will return an NX domain result. Names registered during general availability will need to be renewed per the standard registration policy. WHOIS will display the registrant details.

Choose this if you want to have your .XXX domains submitted as soon as the ICM Registry opens.

.XXX Domain Name Requirements

Who can register a .XXX domain space?

Registration eligibility depends on the registration phase.

After launch, if you wish to register a non-resolving .XXX domain name, then there are no special requirements to register .XXX domain names. The following general rules apply:

General Rules

  1. the name must consist exclusively of the letters A-Z (case insensitive), the numbers 0-9, and hyphens;
  2. the name cannot begin or end with a hyphen;
  3. the name cannot contain labels with hyphens in the third and fourth character positions (e.g., "bq--1k2n4h4b" or "xn--ndk061n");
  4. no part of the name may be contain an underscore;
  5. the name cannot exceed 63 characters (excluding the TLD); and
  6. until further notice, the name must contain at least 3 characters.