.XXX Moving Forward With IFFOR Formation After ICANN Vote

PALM BEACH, Fla. — After seven years of lobbying and spending millions on the initiative, ICM Registry's Stuart Lawley is moving forward with the next step of the .XXX proposal, which was approved on Friday by ICANN and set for a general launch in September.

"After seven years of triumphs and tribulations, I am pretty relieved it is all over," Lawley told XBIZ on Monday.

Later this week, IFFOR's policy council will begin selecting up to nine individuals to hold posts to the group's board. So far, Lawley said, there are 21 "strong" candidates in the field.

IFFOR, or the International Foundation for Online Responsibility, will act as the regulation czar for .XXX, funded primarily by .XXX domain name holders.

"We are trying for a blend — from studio heads to performers — and we will select five or six this week," he said. "We interviewed three candidates at the ICANN meeting in San Francisco."

Just days after ICANN's official blessing, Lawley said the numbers of pre-reserved .XXX domains is currently at 302,000 and that it is right about the level where ICM Registry's business plan estimated.

Lawley also said that .XXX has signed on two Founders member companies and is in talks with 18 others, with an eventual cap of 30. Founders members are for those companies with existing large portfolios vowing innovative ideas for their sites.

The benefits of .XXX for online adult providers, Lawley said, include predictable revenue streams, greater customer retention and the chance to take a proactive and responsible approach to their web presence.

"While, back in 2004, we would have sold more domain names, we think .XXX is now more relevant than ever," he said. "The [adult entertainment] industry needs a shot in the arm by dealing with piracy and embracing innovation; in addition there will be a better trust level over the sites because they will be safer and filtered free from viruses, identity theft, credit card fraud and inadvertent exposure to child abuse images."

.XXX will experience three tracks within the Sunrise period for top-level domain, two of which will be routes to conventional domain name registration by the adult industry companies. The third will be a route for businesses and organizations that consider themselves not to be members of the sponsored community to secure a blocked name.

Lawley said that .XXX, when it rolls out in September, will include a "revolutionary payment system" that will work alongside conventional adult payment processors systems, an idea he thinks will draw more paying consumers to adult sites.

"It will be designed as an iTunes-meets-Paypal [processing system] where consumers will be able to make micropayments with a dollar here, a dollar there," said Lawley, who noted that it would facilitate multiple currencies and be available in more than 120 countries.

While Lawley fought hard to push .XXX through, he continues to be adamant about defending .XXX domain owners if they were to be beset with possible legislation from political foes of adult entertainment, vowing again to instate a "fighting fund" of $250,000.

"And that figure will go up substantially," Lawley said. "[.XXX's] responsible self regulation is the best way to fend off onerous and clumsy legislation."

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Aylo Says It Will Comply With UK Age Assurance Requirements

Tech and media company Aylo, which owns various adult properties including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube, plans to introduce age assurance methods in the United Kingdom that satisfy government rules under the Online Safety Act, the company has announced.

Kyrgyzstan Parliament Approves Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday passed legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

Trial Set for Lawsuit by U Wisconsin Professor Fired Over Adult Content

A trial date of June 22, 2026, has been set for the civil lawsuit filed by veteran communications professor Joe Gow against the University of Wisconsin board of regents, which fired him for creating and appearing in adult content.

New UK Task Force Meets to Target Adult Content

The architect of an influential report that recommended banning adult content deemed “degrading, violent and misogynistic” has convened an “Independent Pornography Review task force” aimed at translating that report’s findings into action in the U.K.

11:11 Creations Launches Affiliate Program

11:11 Creations principal Alicia Silver has launched 11:11 Cash for creators and affiliates.

Pineapple Support, Pornhub to Host 'Self Love' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Pornhub are hosting a free online support group for performers to develop self-love.

Show More