So this is kind of odd. A couple weeks ago, the first .xxx domains started going live. It’s a domain name that’s meant for adult websites. Various organizations bought up their own names under the domain, not because they wanted to launch porny versions of their sites but just so they could control who uses their brands. Turns out ICM, the company that administers the domain took the initiative to reserve/block names like MittRomney.xxx and NewtGingrich.xxx. But Politico reports that the effort was not exactly comprehensive:
But why, then, was one Brian Manning from Greenville, N.C., able to purchase Newt.xxx and RonPaul2012.xxx? And what about Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson, whose .xxx domains are still for sale?
Loren Pomerantz, who handles media for ICM, tells POLITICO that when the field of Republican presidential contenders first fell into place, the company pulled from registration the .xxx domain names of the main candidates (but clearly not all variations of possible candidate site names).
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
