4 fresh TLD applications withdrawn

Google and one .brand applicant withdraw applications.

Kudos to Michele Neylon for spotting an option on ICANN’s web site to see which fresh top level domain name applications have been withdrawn.

Thus far four applications have been withdrawn, counting three by Google.

The three by Google ought to not come as a huge surprise. ICANN Senior VP Kurt Pritz previously disclosed that three application had been withdrawn, and you can thank Kevin Murphy for that. Murphy earlier noted that three Google applications wouldn’t be accepted, and later surmised that Google accounted for the three applications Pritz referred to. (Something tells me Google won’t send a check to Murphy for his assistance.)

Google withdrew applications for .and, .are, and .est, all of which are protected three-letter country codes.

The fourth withdrawn application is a brand application for .ksb by KSB Aktiengesellschaft. Frankly, I don’t see any reason that the firm needs the .ksb top level domain. It by now owns KSB.com.

I reached out to KSB’s consultant on its application, which declined to comment.