Dear Jules,
Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2000 12:40:55 +0100 From: Jules Desforges <jules@vas-net.net> To: lir-wg@ripe.net Subject: Privacy issues with RIPE Database
Hi,
I would like to bring an issue to your attention, which has caused VAS-NET some commercial harm.
VAS-NET have been a local registry for over 3 years now. VAS-NET are also an active member of RIPE, we usually send delegates to participate in RIPE meetings, and we make sure our staff are properly trained in RIPE procedures.
We always endeavor to keep our entries in the RIPE database up to date. I'm now finding that our diligence in keeping the RIPE database up to date, is working in our detriment.
We are finding that other companies who are in competition with us, are using the RIPE database as a tool to extract a list of our customer base and hence canvass our customers with marketing information. I do not wish to make allegations or name the parties ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ involved, but we have witnessed this three times in the last 6 months. ^^^^^^^^^
This is one of our problems, i.e. most people "hit" by others' non-conformance to rules or copyright shy away from following up. My feeling is that nothing is going to change for the better, unless we, as a community, and individual parties start to have those rules *enforced*. Doing so a couple of times and indeed going public with the action is going to change the "public perception" of the problem.
The Ripe Database is the only publicly accessible source which contains a list of our clients. I do not feel that these companies could have gleaned this information from any other source. The evidence is even more compelling when all of the mail shots have been sent to the admin contacts listed in the RIPE database.
As a company, VAS-NET endorse RIPE's open policy concerning IP Registrations. In the past we've always had issues with other registries for not containing information which is important for peering decisions. (especially the American registries).
I suppose the biggest problem, is finding a way of safeguarding our customers from being targeted in this way. A solution to this problem, doesn't seem likely with the way the RIPE NCC procedures are laid down at the moment. But, I would appreciate any input from yourselves regarding this matter.
Best Regards,
Jules Desforges VAS-NET
Best regards, Wilfried. _________________________________:_____________________________________ Wilfried Woeber : e-mail: Woeber@CC.UniVie.ac.at UniVie Computer Center - ACOnet : Tel: +43 1 4277 - 140 33 Universitaetsstrasse 7 : Fax: +43 1 4277 - 9 140 A-1010 Vienna, Austria, Europe : RIPE-DB: WW144, PGP keyID 0xF0ACB369 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~