YNOT – ICM Registry LLC, the organization that oversees the .xxx sponsored Top Level Domain, has applied to create and operate three more adult-oriented extensions under the generic Top Level Domain program recently kicked off by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

Under new rules finalized in 2011, ICANN, the governing body for internet names and numbers, began accepting applications for new domain extensions on Jan. 12. The first round of applications will end April 20. Sometimes referred to as the “kitchen sink” approach to expanding the number and variety of domain names available on the World Wide Web, ICANN’s new gTLD process allows anyone willing to part with the $185,000-per-extension application and evaluation fee to propose a new domain space for any reason.

Applications for the proposed adult-content-specific gTLDS — .sex, .porn and .adult — were submitted by separate, wholly-owned subsidiaries of ICM Registry: ICM Registry SX LLC, ICM Registry PN LLC, and ICM Registry AD LLC, respectively.

“ICM Registry has worked for more than a decade to create .xxx, which has become a globally accepted and responsible place for adult online entertainment to thrive in an easily recognizable, self-regulated environment,” said ICM Chief Executive Officer Stuart Lawley. “We are dedicated to protecting interested stakeholders by providing the latest technology and the best domains, which is why we created the .xxx TLD.

“We chose to submit applications for additional TLDs to spare .xxx participants from needless expense and to ensure the TLDs will be run in the same trustworthy and appropriate ways that .xxx is today,” he added.

The move represents a departure from Lawley’s previous position about adult-content-specific domain spaces. Based on the arduous, 10-year odyssey ICM endured before .xxx was approved in early 2011 — not to mention the $10 million Lawley estimates he invested in pursuit of .xxx and the bitter battle between ICANN and its own Governmental Advisory Committee, which opposed .xxx from the beginning — Lawley in the past has said he did not believe additional adult-content-specific domains would receive ICANN’s approval in the future.

In fact, when it comes to proposed new gTLDs, ICANN stakeholders are allowed to object to any they find distasteful for a variety of reasons. Although most gTLD applications are virtually guaranteed approval — as long as the applicants hold up to financial and technological scrutiny — potentially offensive or controversial gTLD applications may be required to undergo extra review. Because ICANN makes no provision for refunding up-front fees should it deny a gTLD application, it is difficult to imagine anyone applying without reasonable certainty their proposed gTLD would pass muster.

If awarded the new gTLDs for which it has applied, ICM Registry plans to offer what it calls a “grandfathering” program that automatically will reserve new domain names that match existing .xxx domains. Owners of .xxx domains may chose to do nothing, and the matching names will never be released under the new TLD suffixes, according to a prepared statement ICM distributed Thursday. If .xxx registrants wish to acquire corresponding names in the new spaces, they will pay what ICM’s statement called “a nominal fee.”

“This means .xxx domain holders can potentially triple their exposure and the value of their holdings, while brand and trademark holders who own .xxx domain names are automatically protected and will not have to register for the new domain names,” the statement noted.

“ICM Registry has invested just under $2 million in these applications to support our existing customers,” Lawley said. “By offering the grandfathering clause at no charge, we are demonstrating our commitment to our adult entertainment community and will not collect fees for this from anyone who already has purchased a .xxx domain by the appropriate cut-off date.”

According to Lawley, ICM has apportioned more than 215,000 .xxx domains so far. The figure represents not only domains purchased and in use, but also those reserved solely to protect existing trademarks and service marks in both the adult industry and the mainstream as well as domain names withdrawn from the registration pool because they incorporate sensitive religious, historical or cultural terms.