ICM Blasted for Using Pre-reservation Numbers to Lobby .XXX

CANOGA PARK, Calif. — The Free Speech Coalition's executive director blasted ICM Registry President Stuart Lawley on Thursday, claiming he has broken his word over using pre-reservation numbers in his cause for lobbying .XXX.

Diane Duke told XBIZ that Lawley said he would not use pre-reservations as a sign of support when he spoke at the XBIZ Hollywood Conference in 2007.

"It seems as if he has gone back on his word," she said. "It costs nothing to preregister. The businesses I have spoken with state that they preregistered defensively and they oppose .XXX."

Lawley this week boasted he has more than 10,000 members of the sponsored online adult community who have applied to pre-register more than 187,000 domains ahead of its proposed launch sometime in the first three months of the new year.

He and ICM have been marketing the .XXX sTLD proposal at recent adult industry trade shows in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin and Vienna.

Earlier this year, ICANN's Independent Review Panel issued a declaration in its review of ICM Registry's appeal, finding that the application for the .XXX sTLD met the required sponsorship criteria. In June, the ICANN board approved the proposal.

The FSC, which for years has been trying to shoot down the .XXX sTLD proposal, recently said that not only is the plan a liability for the adult entertainment industry, but it also is threat to the "stability and security of the Internet as a whole."

.XXX could get the final green light as early as next week at the ICANN board meeting in Cartagena, Colombia.

Related:  

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 News

Brazil Invites Public Input on AV Guidelines

Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) on Friday launched a public consultation on developing guidelines for age verification mechanisms under the country’s Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents (Digital ECA), which requires adult websites to age-verify users located in Brazil.

Paysite Confidential: Inside the Creator Economy's Shift Toward Ownership

For years, the adult industry’s creator economy has been defined by platforms — powerful engines of discovery, monetization and scale that reshaped how performers connect with their audiences.

Senator Urges DOJ to Crack Down on 'Obscenity,' Attacks OnlyFans

U.S. Senator Jim Banks of Indiana this week urged Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to reestablish the Department of Justice’s defunct Obscenity Prosecution Task Force in a letter that targets OnlyFans while repeatedly conflating “obscenity” with legal adult content.

UN Experts Urge US, Canada to Prosecute Aylo, Others for 'Exploitation'

GENEVA – The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a press release in which two U.N. special rapporteurs, cited as experts, accuse Aylo and other companies of complicity in sexual exploitation.

Tennessee Governor Signs Bill Requiring Warnings on Adult Stores

Governor Bill Lee on Tuesday signed into law a bill requiring adult stores, theaters and other establishments in Tennessee to post warning signs cautioning patrons that they “may be contributing” to sexual assault and human trafficking.

Kickstarter Revokes New Rules Banning Fundraising for Adult Content, Products

Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter announced Tuesday that it has reversed its recent decision to impose new “Mature Content” rules banning projects that involve adult content and sextech.

Report: Irish Justice Minister Seeks UK-Style Ban on 'Extreme' Content

Ireland’s justice minister plans to introduce legislation criminalizing possession and distribution of “extreme” pornography, according to a report by the Irish Independent.

New Kickstarter Rules Ban Fundraising for Adult Content, Products

Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter has posted new “Mature Content” rules banning projects that involve adult content and sextech.

WebGroup Czech Republic Settles Florida AV Suit, Will Pay $1.2 Million

WebGroup Czech Republic (WGCZ), the parent company of XVideos, XNXX, BangBros and GirlsGoneWild, has settled a lawsuit filed by the state of Florida over those sites’ alleged failure to age-verify Florida users before allowing access to adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for March, April

AEBN has published the top search terms for March and April from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Show More