Nod for .XXX Porn Ghetto

Lawley has spent $6 million over six years on .xxx legal fees and $3.5 million on other costs.

He first tried to get ICANN to recognise .xxx as a domain in 2004. His application was denied because he didn't have enough support in the adult-entertainment industry, according to ICANN Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush.

Lawley said the proposal moved forward last week after an independent arbitrator ruled ICANN acted improperly in rejecting the proposal.

Otherwise uninvolved in the porn industry, Lawley is a mechanical engineer by training and was former chairman of Oneview.net Plc. The company, which he helped take public on London's AIM market in 1999, was sold for $200 million in March 2000, he said. He's now looking for his next big Internet win.

“This is bespoke for the adult entertainment business,” he said. “It's a must-have.”