As I understand it the RIR's are subcontractors and IANA is supposed to make sure the subcontractors handle the registration data properly.
PS: You seem to have a top-down view, while this is a bottom-up world. Communities (like the RIPE community) set policy, and the RIR (RIPE NCC) implements that policy. On a global scale: when the communities of all RIRs agree on a global policy (see http://www.nro.net/policies/global-policies-development-process) then it gets implemented by ICANN (performing the IANA role). - Sander PS: list, please excuse me for all this off-topic stuff. I'm trying to solve this argument in a polite way. I'll take it off-list now. PPS: Russ, please send your messages off-list as well. This is not about abuse anymore but on policy structure...