The new gTLD .Art appears to have been settled by private auction.
The new gTLD string was set for an ICANN auction on July, 29th 2015 but several applications were withdrawn today indicating that .Art was settled privately.
In all there were 10 applicants for .Art and as of publication 5 applications have been withdrawn
Since there are 5 applications still pending we cannot say who the winner of .Art is, but since several applications for .Art were all withdrawn today it seems certain the extension was settled privately ahead of the ICANN auction
We know for sure that Frank Shilling’s Uniregistry, Minds + Machines, Aremi Group S.A., and Top Level Design who operates .Design, .wiki and .ink as well as EFLUX.ART, LLC, have withdrawn their applications.
The order that applications have been withdrawn has no bearing on how the bidding went in the private auction which is as advertised, private.
Here are the applicants and the current status:
(Withdrawn) Uniregistry, Corp.
(In Auction) Merchant Law Group LLP
Two applicants left as of this evening:
UK Creative Ideas Limited
and
Merchant Law Group LLP
any bets?
Sure
My money is on UK Creative Ideas Limited as the winner
Will need to check in a week or two again to see which one has dropped out.
The site will most likely be updated early next week
Well guessed!