Google Backs Off On Closed Generic Strings Including .Search So Does L’Oréal

It looks like Google has given up operating new gTLD generic stings as a close registry,  even for  .Search which at one point it wanted to operate as a Dotless Domain.

According to an ICANN’s announcement tonight Google d/b/a Charleston Road Registry has backed off the close generic string application for:

.MOVE; .MUSIC; .MAIL; .MAP; .STORE; .SHOP; .BABY; .SHOW; .BOOK; .GAME; .CPA; APP; CLOUD; SEARCH, .MOVIE

L’Oréal which applied for top operates generics like .Beauty, .Skin; .Hair; .Salon; and .Makeup as a closed generic strings has  agreed to open the strings up based on GAC advice.

Amazon also backed off the closed generic strings but are still seeking to operate many of their strings as “exclusive access generic strings” which will have to get the OK from ICANN.

Of the 186 applications of generic strings that originally applied to operate  as closed strings:

Applicants of 10 applications indicated that the applied-for TLDs will be operated as exclusive access registries.

Applicants of 35 applications indicated that their applications currently state that the applied-for TLDs will be operated as exclusive access registries, but the applicants will not operate them as exclusive access registries.

Applicants of 138 applications indicated that they do not intend to operate the applied-for TLDs as exclusive access registries and that their applications are currently consistent with this intent.

Based on this Resolution, applicants of the 138 applications mentioned above will be invited to the Contracting process by priority number, once eligible.

Amazon answered “no” to the question “Will the TLD be operated as an exclusive access registry?” for quite a few of their strings which they originally wanted to operate on a closed basis

“An exclusive access registry is defined as a registry restricted to a single person or entity and/or that person’s or entity’s Affiliates.”

Applicants of the 35 applications mentioned above will be asked to submit a change request to align their applications and intent.

Once an application change request has been approved by ICANN and the application becomes eligible, these applicants will be invited to the Contracting process in order of priority number.

For the remaining applications (10 indicating intent to operate as an exclusive access “generic” and 3 wherein the applicant did not provide a response), ICANN will perform an analysis to determine whether the Advice is implementable, then provide the NGPC with this analysis and if applicable, a proposal for how to implement the GAC Category 2 Safeguard Advice per the NGPC’s request in the Resolution.

Here are the applicants that still want to operate their strings and as a closed registry:

.theater

Applicant: KBE gTLD Holding Inc

.theatre

Applicant KBE gTLD Holding Inc

.broker

Applicant IG Group Holdings PLC

.tires

Applicant The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

.cruise

Applicant Viking River Cruises (Bermuda) Ltd.

.dvr

Applicant Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation

.mobile, .data, .phone

Applicant Dish DBS Corporation

.GROCERY

Applicant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Here are the applicants that answered yes to the question: Does your current application state that the TLD will be operated as an exclusive registry?

For these, ICANN will perform an analysis to determine whether the Advice is implementable, then provide the NGPC with this analysis and if applicable, a proposal for how to implement the GAC Category 2 Safeguard Advice per the NGPC’s request in the Resolution.

.CPA

Applicant American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

.CRUISE

Applicant Cruise Lines International Association Inc.

.BLOG

Applicant Charleston Road Registry

.courses

Applicant OPEN UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

APP (1-1315-63009)
BOOK (1-1315-44051)
CLOUD (1-1315-79670)
GAME (1-1316-7998)
MAIL (1-1316-17384)
MAP (1-1316-5335)
MOBILE (1-1316-6133)
MOVIE (1-1316-44615)
MUSIC (1-1316-18029)
NEWS (1-1316-26110)
SEARCH (1-1317-13549)
SHOP (1-1317-37897)
SHOW (1-1317-52877)
SONG (1-1317-53837)
STORE (1-1317-24947)
TUNES (1-1317-30761)
VIDEO (1-1317-52344)
家電 [Consumer Electronics] (1-1318-54339) 通販 [Online Shopping] (1-1318-15593) 食品 [Food] (1-1318-83264)
クラウド [Cloud] (1-1318-69604) ストア [Store] (1-1318-83013)
セール [Sale] (1-1318-75179) ファッション [Fashion] (1-1318-40887) 書籍 [Book] (1-1318-52278)

Applicant Amazon

.WATCHES

Applicant Richemont

.JEWELRY

Applicant Richemont

.手表 (WATCHES)

Applicant Richemont

.珠宝 (JEWELRY)

Applicant Name Richemont

.HOTELS

Applicant Name Booking.com B.V.