.xxx - the best way to stop censorship?

Lensman, owner of Adult.com and GFY, writes on GFY June 3, 2005:

If adult content was on it's own TLD, it's easy to block it for kids. No major isp is going to block it, because they'd lose 20% of their customers. And people that want porn will have the power to see it. I'd rather have that than have the US gov't try to prosecute people. And if ICANN enforces it, it would be worldwide. The KEY is that the registry MUST allow the current .com owners to get the same domains as .xxx, without the regisgtered tm bs. If you own a .net, you are second in line. If they don't, I can see lots of lawsuits.

Attorney Lawrence G. Walters writes April 2, 2004:

For the good of the adult Internet industry, this proposal should be approved. Having provided legal representation to the adult webmaster community since 1995, along with other facets of the adult industry for years before, I’ve seen many unsuccessful attempts to organize and speak with a united voice. Organizing in the adult Internet industry is essential; just as it is with any other highly-regulated industry. My law firm has represented the adult industry for over 40 years, and has been involved in many organizing efforts. It may be that the only way for this particular facet of the industry to organize is through a non-profit foundation structured to support both the online adult community and the broader Internet community funded through .xxx registration revenue. A .xxx domain name option will eventually become a reality, and the current proposal will result in significant benefit to the industry as a whole, given the significant funding that IFFOR could potentially secure for the purposes of lobbying, legal defense, and media outreach.

When compared to a generic TLD proposal, the current Sponsored TLD proposal is definitely preferable. In light of the current political climate in the United States and elsewhere, IFFOR could become a critical voice for the continued viability and success of the adult website industry. Regardless of one’s feelings concerning the esoteric advisability of a voluntary .xxx domain name registration option, the practical realities must be addressed. Some entity will ultimately convince ICANN to approve a TLD for the adult industry. The current proposal by ICM Registries, Inc., sponsored by IFFOR, will bestow benefits on the industry which far outweigh any of the potential concerns advanced to date. The webmaster community should get behind this proposal which will give something back, instead of waiting for another group to submit a generic TLD proposal based purely on profit motive.

Leaders in the Online Adult Industry Support .xxx?

Greg Dumas (former CEO of the failed company IGallery, once one of online porn's biggest) writes May 14, 2004:

I write this to communicate my support for the .xxx TLD proposal. I write as an experienced member of the online Adult Industry and have been since 1995.

I currently own an Internet marketing company specializing in adult website marketing since 2001.  Prior to that I  was President of IGallery, as subsidiary of New Frontier media, a NASDAQ listed company from 1996 to 2001 and prior to that was VP of Marketing for Hustler launching its flagship site in 1995.

I am also a director of the Free Speech Coalition since 2001.

All these companies share one belief ... that child pornography is illegal, it is morally wrong and it should be stopped. This application demonstrates that belief and that the adult industry is prepared to both do something about child pornography and open up a dialogue with the broader Internet community.

.xxx offers an opportunity for the online adult industry act responsibly.

It provides a new forum and platform for the online adult industry to begin to self-organize and to develop their own credible and responsible business practices.

I have personally met with many of the leaders in the online adult community from around the world ... from Python Communications in Curacao ... to Netcollex in the UK ... to Hustler, Vivid, AVN and many many more have all demonstrated their support for this application.

In addition, there is great concern about the risks posed to the industry if .xxx was to ever become a generic TLD.

No other application has stronger industry support or as broad and diverse a community of International supporters from all impacted stakeholders.

Brandon Shalton posts on GFY: "Even if it were true that large and visible companies that supported .XXX with letters of endorsements that were submitted in private with financial gains (kicksbacks,commissions, etc), and that ASACP has been in the open of its NEUTRAL stance, it doesn't matter to you?"

An open letter to the ASACP Advisory Council

Baddog writes on GFY 6/17/05:

During the Hot Issues and Problems in Adult Internet seminar at Cybernet Expo in San Diego, Tom Hymes requested anyone who has, in the past couple of years, written a letter in support of .xxx, and has since decided that it is not as good an idea as originally thought, contact him at the FSC.

Joan Irvine was on the panel and is one of the people he was indirectly directing the request. Joan stated that she did not make decisions like that, and would have to be instructed to do so by the advisory council.

I approached Joan personally, and asked her the chances of her rescinding her support for .xxx - She again told me to talk to the advisory council.

I have approached a couple of you personally (Aly, Holly), and now make a public request. FSC has stated that there is nothing we have to benefit in the implementation of .xxx, and it does nothing to combat CP. So how about it?

I propose that the Advisory Coucil instruct Joan to approach the FSC and discuss what they can do to retract the implied support Joan made in her letter.

YNOT's Editor Connor Young Pours The Heat On Joan Irvine Of ASACP Over .XXX Domains

A source alleges: Aly was for .xxx domains because her [previous boss] David Van Der Pool [owner of Python, Trade News] was an investor. Alec Helmy is also an investor along with Rob Gould, Jack Gallagher and others.

Connor writes on GFY 6/17/05:

Anyone who knows me knows my position. At Cybernet Expo I publicily called for ASACP to rescind its support of .XXX and write a strongly worded letter of opposition. Other than for money, the organization has no business supporting .XXX because it does nothing to protect children. That should be the end of it, as far as ASACP is concerned. Like Mike expressed earlier, I also feel sorry for Joan because I don't think she made the final decision to send out that letter of support. And now that it's out there she's left defending it and trying to pretend that it's a "neutral" letter when clearly it is not neutral. I also know that if I was on the Advisory Council I would be absolutely PISSED about that letter, since I don't think the Council wanted a letter of support to be sent out... it looks like someone else made that decision and hoped to get away with it.

ASACP has a CLEAR opportunity here to do the right thing. We all heard Joan in San Diego say that if the Advisory Council tells her to write a letter of opposition then she will be required to do so. The Advisory Council should put that to the test.... give Joan the instruction she needs to do the right thing, and if she STILL doesn't do it or else writes some confusing and vague letter that can be read in 10 different ways then the members of the Council should think long and hard about why they are volunteering their time with this organization, and who is REALLY pulling the strings. I would like to be supportive of ASACP, but their position on .XXX and their failure to do the right thing here makes it difficult.

Mike South writes:

ASACP can SAY they are neutral but a neutral party doesn't take kickbacks. Nuff said. They sold out, now withdraw your support...I have had my beefs with the FSC in the past but on the issues of 2257 and .XXX the FSC is batting 2 for 2 Tell ASACP and anyone else selling you out to go f--- themselves.

ASACP board members are: * Aly Drummond, AVN * Michelle Freridge, Free Speech Coalition * Alec Helmy, XBiz.com * Chris Jester, SplitInfinity * Holly Moss, HMoss Consulting * Larry Paciotti, CCLR Internet * Scott Rabinowitz, TrafficDude * Morgan Sommer, Cybersocket * Amanda Gross, Epoch Transaction Services