The first phase of .xxx domain name sales have kicked off today with companies and celebrities given the chance to snap up .xxx web domains to protect their names from adult content

With the new .xxx suffix to come into use next year today marks the first opportunity for brands and known names to ensure they are secured against porn hijacking by requesting their name is blocked from use.

Whilst the high profile protect against the ‘red light’ suffix today also marks the first opportunity for existing sites specialising in adult content to submit applications for the corresponding .xxx sites. This ‘sunrise period’ will last 50 days.

Regardless of what your personal views are on the existence of pornography on the internet, at least .xxx will give people the information they need to make a choice," said ICM Registry Chief Executive Stuart Lawley.

Are you pleased or offended by the decision to allow the use of the .xxx domain suffix? Let us know via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.

Via: BBC