Hi Frank, This message is copied to the list, as requested. Frank Gadegast wrote: [...]

Lets ask me one thing (simply because you have an iconn email address): is ICANN forcing the RIRs to have a public whois database by CONTRACT and are the registries forced to have up-to-date and validated data in it ?

Could you please point that out on the list ?

I do not believe there is currently a contract between ICANN and the NRO or individual RIRs. In 2007, ICANN and the NRO agreed an exchange of letters. In ICANN's letter to the NRO it stated that it seeks "to further enhance our relationship for the mutual benefit of our organizations and respective communities. For that matter we wish and will seek to establish an appropriate legal arrangement within one (1) year from the date of this letter." I do not believe that arrangement has been established. You can find the announcement about the exchange of letters on the ICANN web site, here: http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-09nov07-en.htm The letters themselves are published on the correspondence pages but that announcement places them in a single page, which is more convenient to read. I expect the "Review of the ASO" document, which is currently in the second half of the public comment period, will have a fuller description of the relationship between the NRO and ICANN: http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/aso-review-16mar12-en.htm Kind regards, Leo Vegoda