Haters gonna hate, hate, hate — but Taylor Swift will make it hard for them to do so.
The pop star recently snatched up the domain names TaylorSwift.porn and TaylorSwift.adult to keep them from falling into the wrong, pervy hands.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has worked to expand the number of generic top-level domains (gTLDs), CNN Money reported. But among the more than 500 gTLDs being added to domains like .com and .org will be .porn, .adult and .sucks (less controversial ones like .healthcare will also be added).
ICANN, which is fully aware of the negative repercussions of adding these domains, is allowing certain trademarked brands and public figures to take advantage of the so-called “sunrise period” and register the domains before they become open to public purchase on June 1.
Swift isn’t the only one taking advantage of the sunrise period. According to Stuart Lawley, CEO of ICM Registry, which operates the .porn and .adult top-level domains, Microsoft has registered Office.porn and Office.adult.
While ICANN has not released the exact amount Swift or other brands are paying for these sites, it is likely to be in the $105-$125 a year range, considering the average cost for domain names through various authorized registrars, such as 101domain and GANDI.
The singer has previously spoken out against trolls who have claimed to have pornographic images of Swift, assuring there is no validity to their claims.
Source: mashable.com