.XXX Sunrise Now Open

Sunrise applications are now being accepted by the ICM Registry for .XXX domains. Whether you or your company are WITHIN the "Sponsored Community" or outside, now is the time to put in your application for your branded .XXX domain.

Last week we posted .XXX Sunrise Applications Questions and Answers , which spurred on even more questions. The most important of these relate to the Sponsored Community, the verification process, and the Go-Live registration process.

Question and Answers for .XXX:

1. What is the criteria for being a member of the Sponsored Community?

Sponsored Community consists of individuals, business, entities, and organizations that fit one of the following:

• Provide Online Adult Entertainment intended for consenting adults (“Providers”) (e.g. adult webmasters, performers, studios, store owners, club operators);
• Represent Providers (“Representatives”) (e.g. lawyers, agents, advisors, accountants, affiliates); or
• Provide products or services to Providers and Representatives (“Service Providers”) (e.g. adult domainers, manufacturers, delivery companies, caterers, distribution companies, merchant account services, make up artists, stylists, hosting services).

2. What is the Process for the Sponsored Community Validation?

1. Person/company submits an application for a name in Sunrise A or Landrush with their registrar of choice – they pay their registrar directly for that.
2. ICM sends the person/company an introduction email with validation link – to the Registrant Contact email address provided with their application.
3. The person/company clicks on the validation link in the ICM email and is directed to the ICM Membership Application.
4. The person/company fills out the ICM Membership Application — free of charge. (Takes about 5 minutes to complete – only have to do this one time per email account, not per domain.)
5. As a part of ICM's Membership Application, the person has to do the following:
   • Provide correct birth date information
   • Agree to ICM's terms of service
   • Attest to being a member of the Sponsored Community
6. ICM will validate certain contact details:
   • Address
   • Phone Number
7. ICM will call the phone number provided during the Membership Application
8. In that phone call, ICM will provide the person with a PIN # (real time) and the applicant will input the pin in the designated area in the Membership Application process.
9. Once the person completes the Membership Application, ICM provides the registrar a Membership Token thus allowing all of the .xxx domain names associated with that email account to resolve.
11. The Validation Process Video from the ICM Registry

3. When the registry is opened up for general availability, how will registrations be different for members of the Sponsored Community and non-members?

Though registration after Go-Live (general availability) will be open to the public and allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis, domains will only resolve for validated members of the Sponsored Community. Non-member registrations will be awarded, but the domain will not resolve on the Internet, essentially making them DEFENSIVE REGISTRATIONS ONLY.