ICANN cited fears that it would find itself having to regulate content and is concerned because they did not have the support of the adult entertainment industry as a whole.
"The proposal is effectively rejected, and it is my understanding that as a consequence of this vote, we will not accept any further proposals" said ICANN Chairman Vinton Cerf after the 9-5 vote. One member, ICANN Chief Executive Paul Twomey, abstained.
The company seeking the domain name, ICM Registry LLC, had been allowed to revise a previously rejected proposal. Although ICANN wants to close the current round, which began in 2004, a new proposal could be offered in the next round of applications.
ICM's president and chief executive, Stuart Lawley, said a lawsuit against ICANN was likely over the rejected bid.
A few ICANN board members criticized their own agency as being too timid to tread toward controversial ideas.
Susan Crawford, a board member who backed the ".xxx" domain name, said the Internet's success grew out of a principle that the network should be open to anyone or anything as long as it isn't illegal or harmful.
"In a nutshell, everything not prohibited is permitted," Crawford said
