Dear all, Hans-Petter has already done a good job clarifying the question below, so I will simply add my additional comments from the RIPE NCC. "Hans Petter Holen" <hph@online.no> writes: * * ----- Original Message ----- * From: "Berislav Todorovic" <beri@EU.net> * To: "Herbert Baerten" <herbert@hostit.be> * Cc: <lir-wg@ripe.net> * Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 10:33 AM * Subject: Re: Changing inetnum objects * * * > On Fri, 8 Sep 2000, Herbert Baerten wrote: * > * > >> can one company foo.com request its LIR to change the company's inetnum * > >> (netname, description, tech-c) so it appears to belong to another * company * > >> bar.com? * > * > RIPE NCC keeps their own internal records on allocated/assigned address * > space. So, although you may modify anything you like in the RIPE * > Database, you'll get into conflicts with their internal records and * > that will probably trigger an auditing action from hostmasters. It is correct that if the netname attribute in the inetnum object in the RIPE database changes or if you intend to combine multiple assignments into one object in the future, you are required to inform the RIPE NCC. All LIRs are informed of this as they receive their approval for an assignment from the RIPE NCC. However, any contact details, telephone numbers, names etc can be changed without having to inform the RIPE NCC. As it is a public database, the responsibility of the information entered in the database, lies with whoever has entered the the data in the database. (As Hans-Petter points out, it would be practically impossible for the RIPE NCC to keep track of all changes made to all inetnum objects in the database.) * Is this correct ? * I assume RIPE NCC keep internal records for allocations to LIRs but I can't * really see how they could practically do this for assignments from LIRs to * their customers ? * * I see a lot of perfectly good reasons for a LIR to do such changes * (without any particular need for consulting the RIPE NCC): * - the company has changed its name (i.e. same legal entity, new name) * - the company has been merged with another legal entity. (i.e. new legal * entity) * - the company splits of its internet operations to a separate legal entity * and so on... * * As many if not all of these scenarios are likely change the initial * criteria for the assignment there is likely to be a need for the LIR to * review the assignment as if the company requested new or additional address * space. Indeed. To quote the RIPE document "European Internet Registry Policies and Procedures": "Assignments of any kind of address space are valid as long as the original criteria on which the assignment was based are still valid. If an assignment is made for a specific purpose and the purpose no longer exists, then the assignment is no longer valid. If an assignment is based on information that turns out to be invalid so is the assignment." (http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/ripe-185.html#toc17) In other words, the *approved netname* and *size of the assignment* cannot be changed without contacting the RIPE NCC as this would entail a change of the original criteria of the assignment. * Whether or not consultation with the RIPE NCC is * needed or not would depend on whether the assignment falls within the LIRs * current assignment window or not. This is also correct. If the assignments fall within your Assignment Window you are not required to inform the RIPE NCC of the changes (as these assignments do not have to be approved by the RIPE NCC, but fall within the responsibility of the LIR). (It is of course important to make sure your local records are up to date, should you be required to provide this information in the future to the RIPE NCC.) For you who are not familiar with the term "Assignment Window" I would recommend you to read the section 3.7 in "European Internet Registry Policies and Procedures": http://www.ripe.net/ripe/docs/ripe-185.html#toc39 * When that is said, it probably wont hurt to run the case trough the RIPE NCC * for a second opinion if you are in doubt. But it is likely to pay off to * have done the above mentioned review of the possibly changed assignment * criteria before doing so. * * -hph Hope this clarified the issue further. Best regards, -- Nurani Nimpuno Registration Services Manager RIPE NCC