Anybody that registers a domain for commercial purposes knows they should register all the domain’s top-level extensions: .COM, .NET and .ORG. If your domain is a clever one or if your site becomes successful, others will register top-level domain permutations in order to siphon your traffic.
The continuing hunger for domain names has been fed with new top-level extensions like .BIZ and .TV. Advocates have managed to get ICANN to approve a .KIDS extension for safe surfing. Recognized name companies and personalities have to keep constant vigil over domain squatters. A short, memorable domain name that contains a popular keyword is still worth something.
Covering your ass by snagging up all the variations of your domain is smart business. Well, mostly.
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"Just the same when I see an adult site URL that ends in .ORG it hits me like fingernails on a blackboard." |
Any adult webmaster who hasn’t played the domain game I don’t want to know. Here’s the game: Go to a domain search engine like the one at ICANN. Type in that spectacular new name you know will make you rich and click the search button. If the result page reads THIS NAME IS AVAILABLE, you win! You also get the chance to register your domain with other top-level extensions besides .COM. This is where the whole thing gets difficult.
Top-level domain extensions work like this: .COM stands for a commercial site. .NET stands for a network site. .GOV is a government site. .EDU is a college/university site. .ORG is a non-profit site. Add in the newer top-level extensions along with lower-lever extensions like country codes and you can see how hard it is for a name owner to possess all possible domain variations of their brand. Before the White House had the chance, an adult site owner snatched up the domain WhiteHouse.COM. When a buyer finds a name or keyword domain isn’t available as a .COM or a .NET, they will often register the domain name as .ORG.
At the beginning of this month, the Public Interest Registry assumed control of the .ORG domain. This last weekend of January 25-26 all .ORG data was to be transferred to PIR’s servers. This move temporarily disabled registration services and DNS directives. The question is when the dust has settled; will the Public Interest Registry throw adult sites out of the .ORG club?
Let me restate that .ORG was intended to be used by not-for-profit organizations, clubs, industry associations, etc. It wasn’t meant to be an alternative way to register a cool porn domain in order to make big money. The .ORG TLD has always been for non-commercial interests and groups. .ORG isn’t just like or just the same as .COM or .NET. If you’re using your website to earn an income, then your site really doesn’t belong on a .ORG domain.
That out of the way, what does PIR say about adult sites and other commercial pages with .ORG domains registered or about to be registered? From all the language on their site, it appears that PIR won’t do much about commercial pages on .ORG domains. They very clearly state on their FAQ page:
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"Q: Why won't .ORG be strictly limited to not-for-profits from now on?
.ORG has been an open and unrestricted domain since it was created in the 1980s. ICANN has therefore decided (and PIR agrees) that .ORG should remain an open and unrestricted domain. This will keep .ORG registration affordable, fast, and fair.
It would be difficult, expensive, and sometimes unfair to impose new restrictions. Some of the issues are:
It would be difficult to determine who is a "not-for-profit" and who isn't. Every country has different laws and definitions about what a nonprofit is.
.ORG isn't just for registered not-for-profit organizations. It's the recognized home for all kinds of noncommercial activity -- registered and unregistered, formal and informal.
Verifying the site and credentials of every applicant around the world could multiply the cost and time for registering a .ORG domain. Verification would require many staff people who read different languages, and would slow down the registration process from minutes to weeks or months. PIR will receive just $6 per year for each .ORG domain name, most of which goes to running and improving .ORG's infrastructure and technology.
Since .ORG has been unrestricted for so long, it would be unfair to take domains away from people who registered them under old requirements..."
From the above language, it’s evident that PIR wishes to comply with the directives set down by ICANN. When it comes to making the rules about who and who doesn’t get a .ORG domain, ICANN is in charge. PIR is just the registrar. If you want to know about rule changes when it comes to domain names, visit the ICANN site.
Will ICANN change the rules? Will they decide one day commercial sites should be disallowed from pointing their DNS servers to .ORG addresses? If they did, I wouldn’t be surprised or upset. I happen to believe in the sanctity of the .ORG domain. I’m aware bukkakebabesinaction.org is an unlikely domain for a real not-for-profit. Just the same when I see an adult site URL that ends in .ORG it hits me like fingernails on a blackboard.
Sexuality.org is a real not-for-profit site. It’s a searchable database for alternative sexual subjects. Sexuality.org is ad-free and provides helpful articles/links to information and groups relative to one’s research. While some guys (who think they have the audacity to claim ownership of the word "sex") dance in the courts, Sexuality.org has an Internet home. As long as PIR gets their six dollars a year.