Ah, there is the misunderstanding. Giving back the address space is not a separate transfer. It's part of the original (temporary) transfer. This rule is only to prevent people from selling addresses on.
I understund this idea. I think it will be great to write that rule ( ... 24 months of receiving... ) work only for permanent transfers. Whyle formaly for now it is for any transfers.
Yes, if you receive address space through a transfer the RIPE policy will not let you re-sell it within 24 months. When you have a temporary transfer the contract you have with the original holder will probably prohibit any re-selling at all. But again: giving back the addresses to the original holder is not a separate transfer, it's part of the original transfer, so the 24 month restriction doesn't even apply to giving back the address space. It's only about a potential *new* transfer. - Sander