for MX-only domains both name server and zone contact attributes are actually attributes of the parent (or an ancestor) domain. Agreed. This has been the case since ages for MX-only domains under .NL. Sorry, but I do not fully understand what you mean. I see two altenative possibilities: 1- the zone-c tag refers to the technicians who runs the nameserver of a "fully-managed" or "delegated to" domain. In this case it is to be considered an optional tag for "MX-only" domains. 2- the zone-c tag refers to the technician who runs the nameserver where the MX record of a "MX-only" domain is actually registered. In this case the above needs to be properly stated in the RIPE domain template instructions and zone-c should remain mandatory. I fail to see the difference. If there is no nameserver for the MX-only domain, the next higher nameserver takes that place and lists the MX RR's and becomes responsible for them. Piet