opinion

If it isn’t one thing, it’s another…

Many adult webmasters have been rejoicing lately over ICANN’s latest (and supposedly “final”) rejection of ICM’s .XXX TLD proposal. While this is natural and understandable, I’m always cautious about counting the other guy out.

Indeed, ICM President Stuart Lawley told XBIZ on the day of the defeat “We are extremely disappointed by the Board’s action today. It is not supportable for any of the reasons articulated by the Board, ignores the rules ICANN itself adopted for the RFP, and makes a mockery of ICANN’s By-Laws prohibition of unjustifiable discriminatory treatment. Not least to protect the integrity of the ICANN process, ICM Registry will pursue this matter energetically.”

Rather than dwell on the subject of .XXX, however, I only use it here as a recent example of how a determined entity will continually resurface, morphing into different shapes in hopes of finally accomplishing its desired goals.

But what I’m on about today is Acacia – remember them? Well, they’re back, and you’ll love this one…

It seems that Acacia’s Disc Link Corp. subsidiary has licensed Sage Software’s patents covering “portable storage devices with links technology.” Yep, if you publish CDs or DVDs that feature links to the Internet, such as to your online catalog, then you’ll likely be hearing from Acacia very shortly.

“So what, CDs and DVDs are on the way out!” you say? Sure enough, but the future – including the future of adult – is a landscape marked by a never-ending series of new and innovative “portable storage devices” that will undoubtedly contain “links technology.”

The upshot for some of you is a re-visitation of your business and marketing plans so that you can add an additional line-item to your budget for “links technology licensing.”

Like I said, if it isn’t one thing, it’s another…

Copyright © 2026 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 Articles

trends

Signals Ahead: Pleasure Brands Track the Rapid Convergence of Tech and Intimacy

It’s complicated. As the pleasure industry enters 2026, many industry observers predict that the coming year will be shaped not by a single game-changing breakthrough or standout celebrity partnership, but rather by the slow, powerful alignment of consumer psychology, economic reality, cultural openness and shifting demographic needs.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
opinion

A Creator's Guide to Starting the Year With Strong Financial Habits

Every January brings that familiar rush of new ideas and big goals. Creators feel ready to overhaul their content, commit to new posting schedules and jump on fresh opportunities.

Megan Stokes ·
profile

Kyrie Hara Fuels Tenga's Growth as U.S. Sales Lead

Kyrie Hara is making significant moves. After racking up sales and general management experience during her 14-year run with Hawaiian retailer Sensually Yours, Hara has quickly embraced her role as the newest U.S. sales lead with Japanese manufacturer Tenga.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Jak Knife on Turning Collaboration and Consistency Into a Billion Views

What started as a private experiment between two curious lovers has grown into one of the most-watched creator catalogs on Pornhub. Today, with more than a billion views and counting, Jak Knife ranks among the top 20 performers on the site. It’s a milestone he reached not through overnight virality or manufactured hype, but through consistency, collaboration—and a willingness to make it weird.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Alex Feynerol Discusses Svakom's Male-Focused Brand, Kaotik Labs

Over the past 13 years, Svakom has built its brand on sensuality and emotional intimacy, focusing on elegant design, wellness-oriented messaging and accessible pricing for vibrators and couples’ products — what the company often describes as “affordable luxury.” Recently, however, the company has had to adjust its traditional marketing tactics to fit one particular category steadily gaining prominence: male masturbators.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Pornnhub's Jade Talks Trust and Community

If you’ve ever interacted with Jade at Pornhub, you already know one thing to be true: Whether you’re coordinating an event, confirming deliverables or simply trying to get an answer quickly, things move more smoothly when she’s involved. Emails get answered. Details are confirmed. Deadlines don’t drift. And through it all, her tone remains warm, friendly and grounded.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Why Midlife Men Are the Next Big Bet in Sexual Wellness

The recent shift toward supporting pleasure for perimenopausal and menopausal women — a topic once treated as taboo — has clearly been a major breakthrough for the sexual wellness industry. However, there is an equally important yet often neglected market to consider: midlife men.

Karen Bigman ·
opinion

Outlook 2026: Industry Execs Weigh In on Strategy, Monetization and Risk

The adult industry enters 2026 at a moment of concentrated change. Over the past year, the sector’s evolution has accelerated. Creators have become full-scale businesses, managing branding, compliance, distribution and community under intensifying competition. Studios and platforms are refining production and business models in response to pressures ranging from regulatory mandates to shifting consumer preferences.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Retailer Tips for Building Customer Trust, Loyalty

Want to increase customer traffic and deepen engagement in 2026? Then it’s time to look beyond quick wins and start building true loyalty.

Staci Cruse ·
opinion

How Platforms Can Tap AI to Moderate Content at Scale

Every day, billions of posts, images and videos are uploaded to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. As social media has grown, so has the amount of content that must be reviewed — including hate speech, misinformation, deepfakes, violent material and coordinated manipulation campaigns.

Christoph Hermes ·
Show More