.xxx address rejected

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LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- The agency that sets the Internet addressing guidelines influencing how people navigate the Web defeated a proposal Friday to give adult Web sites their own ".xxx" domain.

Many in the adult-entertainment industry and religious groups alike had criticized the plan, which the Canadian government also warned this week could leave the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers in the tricky business of content regulation.

The 9-5 decision by ICANN's board came nearly seven years after the proposal was first floated by ICM Registry LLC. It was the third time ICANN has rejected such a bid. One member abstained from voting.

Many of the board members said they were concerned about the possibility that ICANN could find itself in the content regulation business if the domain name was approved.

Others criticized that, saying ICANN should not block new domains over fears like that, noting that local, state and national laws could be used to decide what is pornographic and what is not.

It was not immediately clear if ICM would revise its proposal again, abandon the bid or perhaps appeal the decision or take action through the courts.

Source: CNN Technology