ICANN Board approves new .xxx domain name.

Today the ICANN Board of Directors authorized the CEO of ICANN to execute the proposed registry agreement for the .xxx sTLD with ICM Registry.

ICANN’s Board of Directors didn’t agree with GAC advice on the issue.

It’s unclear if Free Speech Coalition will file a lawsuit in an effort to block the implementation. They mustered only a couple dozen protesters yesterday at the ICANN meeting.

At least two board members recused themselves from the vote. CEO Rod Beckstrom abstained.

Many board members spoke out about their votes. A couple stated they were concerned this decision will upset governments. Multiple board members said they voted in favor in part because if .xxx isn’t approved now then a .xxx will certainly be submitted and approved in the new TLD process. This .xxx would be unrestricted.

Board member Johnston Rodin called the decision a “lose-lose”, but said she’d vote in favor.

Update: I talked to ICM Registry founder Stuart Lawley afterward. He said he hopes to have the trademark sunrise period in June and the landrush in the fall.