Sunrise period for .XXX domain names is now closed

International

Sophie Roberts - Staff Writer

ICM Registry, the company behind the .XXX top-level domain (TLD) has officially closed its Sunrise A and Sunrise B periods with more than 80,000 applications for domain names.

The .XXX domain is aimed specifically at the adult entertainment industry so that it can become more easily identifiable and located on the internet.

The Sunrise A period allowed trademark owners to opt-in and apply for a .XXX domain, whereas the Sunrise B period offered trademark owners and IP holders the opportunity to opt-out and block the registration of their trade names in the .XXX domain.

The Sunrise Period, which was extended by three days to accommodate the overwhelming demand, was designed to allow trademark and brand holders ample opportunity to apply for their corresponding .XXX domain names.

During this time, 78,938 trademarked/pre-owned names were submitted, while 1,524 other names were allocated as part of The Founders Program, a scheme which  was designed for early adopters from within the adult industry to secure and develop key .XXX domain names as showcase sites ahead of the official launch of .XXX on 7 September 2011.

 

"We couldn't be happier about the success of the Sunrise period," said Steve Lawley, chief executive of ICM Registry.

"There is always a risk with a new TLD that you may build it and nobody will come. We are thrilled that over 80,000 applications came!  In fact, the .XXX Sunrise period results far exceeds those of any other new sTLD, including .mobi, .asia and even that of .co that re-launched last year with a significant marketing campaign.

"We look forward with great anticipation to Landrush, opening next week and General Availability on 6 December, which is when the fun really starts," Lawley said.

 

Landrush, which opens on 8 November 2011 is a restricted 17-day period set aside for members of the adult Sponsored Community who want to secure premium .XXX domain names, guaranteeing them the chance to either buy them outright, or to participate in a closed mini-auction where they can bid for them.  

Unlike General Availability, Landrush is not administered on a first come, first served basis, thereby guaranteeing anyone applying for an available domain name the chance to obtain it. At the end of the Landrush period, domain names with only one application will be simply awarded, while those with two or more applications will proceed to a closed mini-auction between the respective applicants.

Jonathan Cornthwaite, an IP partner at Wedlake Bell, expressed concern over those brand owners who have not taken the step to block the registration of their trade names as .XXX domain names, saying that they "could be at a real disadvantage...and risk their brands being tarnished, maybe irrevocably".

However, Wedlake Bell said that businesses who fail to register, and subsequently find themselves victim of .XXX cybersquatting, may still take action under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy.