We see it quite often. And the answer is that the sponsorships is rather an entry in some hidden RIPE db than a contract. When an end user is asked "Do you have a sponsoring LIR for this resource and if so, who is it?", the answer is usuallu " We have no idea". And the only way to be certain is to send an email to

Hi Daniel, the RIPE hostmasters. If you don't know, check the LIR Portal to see the registered PI spaces you hold there. For the customer, there is no requirement (if they really don't know.. ) and not get an invoice from some LIR, so it is very easy to just transfer the resources to another LIR and that way you are both sure ...

Let's say you do have the documents in the first situation. How do you know they are still valid? Yes, we used to be sponsor for this resource but how do we know that in RIPE:s point of view, we still are?

Again, check the LIR portal for the registered PI resources under your LIR account. If there are company changes for the registered resources, inform the RIPE NCC that that is the case, send them the old info and the new info and if needed you will be requested additional paperwork of information. Typically, it is a 10 minute fix for a contact or address change. That is what it means to be a LIR, too many people see being an LIR as a way to get resources for themselves. We have customers that we provide RIPE Administration services for, they are an LIR themselves, but stay away from the actual administration or registration part. If an End-Customer wants a more formal registration service instead of a 'sponsoring LIR, could you do me a favor' kind of service, you should transfer the resources of that customer to your LIR within a blink of an eye ... Don't you think ? Publishing the information who the registration LIR is, doesn't fix the fact that information might not be correct. Go through the process of a PI transfer as an actual LIR and then decide if this is still something that is required. Regards, Erik Bais