expiring | expired 4D.ORG just expired and went straight into "registry reserved" status

[TLDNIC]

so it never dropped.
Thought this was not a thing among the long time established registries...

Does this happen frequently?
PIR domains only or also Verisign?
Any insights from the old school NP members?

Thanks!

Joern

 

[Ategy]

I'm pretty sure Verisign don't sell or release cc.com domains anymore (just like c.com domains). All the old ones are still there because they've been grandfathered (like q.com, x.com and z.com).

They likely see the colossal value and will likely hold them until one day putting them up for auction (if ICANN allows them to make exceptions and sell them for more than their ~$8 cap.