After I read DomainNameWire.com coverage of the ICANN resolution on the .XXX Extension and the very negative comments that followed the post, I reached out to Stuart Lawley, CEO of the ICM registry.
In Andrew’s post here stated:
“”It may not be a quick process, and a new can of worms will be opened allowing for another comment period on the actual registry contract.”
However Mr Lawley, who I reached as he was attending the Internext Adult Internet show in Hollywood Florida, was “very pleased” with the outcome of yesterday board action.
Why?
First The board’s resolution means that the ICM Registry has passed its due diligence requirements.
Second, the ICM Registry has completed it negotiations on a contract with the ICANN Staff and expects that the contract will be post by ICANN mid-next week.
Third the ICM registry expects that the ICANN board will vote on the contract by the next possible board meeting which is scheduled for September 23-24th.
Here is the time line as ICM see’s it:
Contract posted next week, lets call it August 10th.
30 days comment period will run like August 10th-September 10th
As to the comment period, the only issue is on the contract and the language of the contract.
Although we can expect hundreds or even thousands of comments objecting to the extension, none of that will matter at this point, as the only comments the board can consider are comments relating to the actual contract.
Under the resolution passed yesterday, the Staff must summarize comments and submit them to the board with its recommendations by the next Board meeting which is scheduled for September 23/24th.
As far the issue of the staff determining whether the contract is consistent with GAC Advice, the ICM registry says the same staff that they just negoitated the contract with, is the very same staff that will make recommendation to board.
Therefore its going to be very tough for that same staff to now tell the board the contract they just negotiated was not consistent with GAC advice.
Therefore ICM fully expects that staff will recommend to board that contract is in accordance with GAC advice and thereby expects to vote on the contract at the September 23/24th meeting.
If for some reason ICANN misses that date their are other board meeting scheduled in October and November of this year, before the ICANN meeting in Colombia in December
Will be very shocked if it happens that fast. I agree that, in many ways, it looks like a done deal. But, even though dotXXX predates the new wave of gTLDs, many will consider it part of the new process and that will put each step under intense scrutiny.
This movie says it all: http://dotxxxopposition.com/
In it, you’ll see adult industry notables such as Larry Flynt, John Stagliano, Peter Ackworth, Joanna Angel, Allison Viva, and others.
UPDATE
The comment period on the .XXX was opened by ICANN today:
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-24aug10-en.htm
Prediction:
ICANN uses the .XXX as an excuse to call Time.OUT on new TLDs.
ICANN can claim there is WAY TOO MUCH on their Plate.
It will take a couple of years for the .CO and .COM dust to clear.
Once other Senators see that .COlorado has a TLD they will want one, NOW!!
There are also major RE-BIDS needed for .ORG .NET and .COM
The PBS-like ICANN Board could pull in the fences and leave .XXX in limbo.
By 2012 it will be an election issue. ICANN likes headlines and the spot.light.
.XXX has been “almost approved” since 1995.