Buying and selling domain names is big business. The nature of the birth of the internet is one of the great reasons why domain names have become so important, and have garnered so much monetary attention.

This year, 15 names used in Internet addresses have resold for at least six figures to companies and individuals hoping to tap into big audiences. On.com got $635,000. Macau.com fetched $550,000.

Sex.com went for a record $12 million in cash and stock to adult-entertainment company Escom in January, according to industry-trade reports and sources with knowledge of the deal, who declined to be named because of the private nature of the sale.