Hi.

Every where we can hear that the  RIPE NCC is non-commercial organization, but let's look deeper: all members sign the Standard Service Agreement that means that the RIPE NCC provides some services. As you know, the company, who provides services, is commercial if it isn't a Charity organization only.

сб, 19 янв. 2019 г., 3:35 Terrence Koeman terrence@darkness-reigns.com:

> The current "you have to pay for a couple more years" wording needs
> looking at - a simple "minimum membership period is 3 years" would I
> expect fix the disputable/legal ramifications, as the current setup
> isn't allowed in the UK for example
> (you cannot charge for a service that you do not, will not or cannot
> supply - so if the member no longer exists, you cannot supply them
> membership, so you cannot charge)

This is not an issue because it is allowed in the UK. Membership is not a service, and it is also not "supplied" to anyone. Membership entitles the member to voting rights and the possibility to request resources according to policies that passed a vote open to all members. But the membership itself is NOT a service.

The fees members pay are used to fund RIPE's services, but those services are not provided to its members. RIPE's services are provided to the global Internet. So, a member is not paying RIPE for resources or any other service; one becomes a member to join in the governance, and help fund the services, of RIPE.

You are confusing a RIPE membership with something like a gym "membership", which is not really a membership but (legally) a subscription. The two are very different.

--
Regards,
   Terrence Koeman, PhD/MTh/BPsy
      Darkness Reigns (Holding) B.V.

Please quote relevant replies.

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