1851

Microsoft recently registered the Office.porn domain name, but no, Bill Gates is not suddenly getting into skin flicks. The software giant is just one of many companies and individuals who are purchasing racy domain names before John Q. Public has a chance to. Beginning June 1, anyone will be able to purchase a generic top-level domain name. That means if they so wished, people with a grudge against Grimace and the Hamburgler could make <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/home.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=should-your-brand-be-buying-porn-domains-1330" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mcdonald&#8217;s</a>.sucks their very own website address. However, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is giving the brands that may be most affected a chance to beat Internet pranksters to the punch with an early purchase. Steve Miholovich, SVP of marketing at Safenames, told CNN Money that while this presents a unique opportunity for companies to protect their brands, some are wary of purchasing a domain name that carries negative connotations. "They want positive images - they want positive messages. They're not going to turn [.sucks] into a positive," Miholovich said. However, brands may be doing more harm than good by refraining. Imagine just how much confusion and bad press a lone individual with a large online following could cause by buying the rights to <a href="http://www.chick-fil-a.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=should-your-brand-be-buying-porn-domains-1330" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chick-fil-A</a>.porn. It&#8217;s a potential risk many are unwilling to ignore. Just take a look at pop superstar Taylor Swift, who CNN Money reported bought both TaylorSwift.porn and TaylorSwift.adult. The question now is: Which brands are going to leave their public images in the hands of Internet users? After all, the World Wide Web isn&#8217;t exactly known for its abundance of maturity and restraint. Read more <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/19/technology/social/porn-sucks-domains/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=should-your-brand-be-buying-porn-domains-1330" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

1851 Franchise

Major companies, celebrities scooping up pornographic domain names before online changes.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Should Your Brand Be Buying Porn Domains?

should-your-brand-be-buying-porn-domains

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

Should Your Brand Be Buying Porn Domains?

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS