See above: a local registry may generate unique handles, but they don't serve the purpose of uniqueness in the context where that uniqueness is required. If an handle is unique it could be used in many different contexts, i.e. database with source: RIPE and source: SOMETHINGELSE True, but that would only make the problem worse: then you could have e.g. 10 Person objects which are each unique in their own [source] context but which actually refer to one and the same person. In such a case I'd still prefer to have a specific tag (like a handle) assigned centrally by RIPE even when the source of the object is not RIPE. The problem of delay in registrations by "regional" registries could perhaps be overcome by an automated "handle assignment" service by RIPE, where a handle could be obtained interactively by authorised persons. Piet