ICANN Panel Mulls .XXX on Eve of Vote

LISBON, Portugal — On the eve of the vote over .XXX, its chief backer conceded to XBIZ that members of ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee have grown tired of the issue and that individual countries have already made up their minds.

“There is no consensus amongst the GAC members," ICM's chairman and CEO Stuart Lawley told XBIZ Thursday. “Some countries are opposed, which is no great surprise, but most are neutral.”

The government advisers met behind closed doors Wednesday but did not issue any statement relative to .XXX. Whatever the advisers decide, their decision carries weight but is nonbinding

A vote on the issue by ICAAN is expected Friday.

ICANN's 15 board members could approve it, reject it outright or reject it but leave room for a revised proposal to return. The board also could defer a decision for more discussion.

ICANN has rejected .XXX proposals twice in the last seven years — once in 2004 and last May — and already has discussed the latest version during three closed-door meetings this year.

ICANN revived the issue in January after ICM agreed to hire independent organizations to monitor online adult site compliance with new regulations, which would be developed by the International Foundation for Online Responsibility, a separate entity.

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