Hi, Not only is the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code assigned but the ccTLD is delegated to NORID's nameservers. NORID also makes it pretty clear that they are not interested in selling the TLD, and I suspect that might very well mirror the position of the Norwegian government. While something like another country is a different thing to just a company wanting to profit from a TLD, it still seems unlikely to me.
Another example: back in 2011 when South Sudan gained independence, they got an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code which was "SS" which could understandably have some problems given historical context for that letter combination.[1] So not getting "BV" is a pretty minor thing in comparison to that, IMHO. There are many countries/geographical entities that have far from perfect ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes. I think pretty much all codes ending in an X is because there were no better ones available. (I am not certain on this part though) [1]: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-independence-idUSTRE75S4A520110629 -Cynthia On Sat, Dec 4, 2021 at 12:17 PM Jaap Akkerhuis <j...@nlnetlabs.nl> wrote: > > "Jay R. Ashworth" writes: > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "David Conrad" <d...@virtualized.org> > > > > > Jay, > > > > > > On Dec 3, 2021, at 4:46 PM, Jay Ashworth <j...@baylink.com> wrote: > > >> In general I could I understand that, but it is my understanding that > the domain > > >> is still marked reserved at the Secretariat, > > > > > > Sorry, which secretariat? As far as I know, the official status of ISO > 3166-1 > > > Alpha 2 codes is specified by the ISO-3166 Maintenance Agency and listed > on the > > > ISO website (the “online browsing platform” output for BV being the URL I > > > provided). > > > > The ISO 3166 secretariat, yes. > > It is no makred as reserved but assigned. > > jaap
