Available .eu domains?

[randomo]

I know that a ton of .eu domains were reg'd today, but my registrars are still showing some super-premium one-word .eu domains available. Could that be true, or are the registry databases just not updated with today's regs yet?

(I can't find out by reg'ing them, as I am in the USA and wouldn't dream of trying to reg another region's domains ... )

 

[randomo]

Let me put this another way:

Would any European businessman on here like to know of some [possibly] unregistered premium .eu names? And if so, is he or she willing to compensate the person who guided him or her to these valuable properties?

(My understanding is that it's now OK for Europeans to register them for any commercial purpose; pardon me if that's not true.)

 

[gazzip]

Hi - I think they may show as available because until early April they cannot be registered unless you have a TM.

Many of the registration companies are taking MULTIPLE reg's for the same name so it would not surprise me if "great" names are showing as available at the moment.

 

[randomo]

Hi - I think they may show as available because until early April they cannot be registered unless you have a TM.

Yes, that's what I thought I had read. But then today I saw this:

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Tue Feb 7, 12:10 PM ET

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of businesses raced to snap up ".eu" internet domain names, with "sex.eu" taking the prize for the most sought-after address on the first day companies could apply.

Two months after the .eu domain name was launched for public institutions and trademark holders, the tag was opened up to companies other than those seeking a site for a brand, as well as for art works and literature. [...]
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So doesn't that mean that any European business can apply for domains today, even without a trademark? Or is the AFP news service wrong? Or am I confused?