________________________________________________________________________ prop-077-v001: Proposal to supplement transfer policy of historical IPv4 addresses ________________________________________________________________________ Authors: Wendy Zhao Wei Jane Zhang Terence Zhang Yinghao Version: 1 Date: 29 July 2009 1. Introduction ---------------- This policy proposal seeks to supplement current policy for the transfer of historical Internet resources, by requiring recipients of transferred historical IPv4 address space to justify its use or subjected to the justification criteria of transfer policy of current IPv4 resources. 2. Summary ----------- Under current policy, transfers of historical resources to current APNIC members are recognized and registered by APNIC; APNIC does not require any technical review or approval of the resource's current use to approve the transfer. This may allow the opportunity for an organization to stockpile IPv4 address space without any actual demand, which is contrary to the current goal of address space management. 3. Situation in other RIRs --------------------------- AfriNIC: If an LIR plans to exchange or transfer address space, it needs to contact AfriNIC so that the changes are properly registered. The LIR remains responsible for all the allocations registered in the AfriNIC database until they have been transferred to another LIR or returned to AfriNIC. There is no requirement to justify the transfer. ARIN: ARIN has two different transfer policies: 1. Mergers and acquisitions Under this policy, organizations must show documentation that justifies use of the resources. However, organizations do not need to meet the current criteria for receiving IPv4 addresses to justify the transfer of historical space as part of a merger or acquisition. The recipient has the option of signing either the Legacy Resource Services Agreement or the standard Resource Services Agreement. 2. Transfers to specified recipients Under this policy, historical resources, like current resources, must first be returned to ARIN. The space can be transferred only if the recipient can demonstrate the need for the resources under current ARIN policies. The recipient must sign the standard Resource Services Agreement. LACNIC: LACNIC permits transfers of historical IPv4 resources in cases of mergers and acquisitions only. Organizations must show documentation that they are not only transferring IP addresses but also equipment and end users of the IP addresses. In these cases, organizations do not need to meet the current criteria for receiving IPv4 addresses to justify the transfer of historical space as part of a merger or acquisition. Once historical resources have been transfered this way, they are considered to be "current". RIPE: Member LIRs can transfer complete or partial blocks of historical or current IPv4 addresses. Such address space must not contain any block that is assigned to an end user. An LIR may only receive a transferred allocation after their need is evaluated and approved by the RIPE NCC according to the existing allocation policies. LIRs that receive a transfer from another LIR cannot re-allocate complete or partial blocks of the same address space to another LIR within 24 months of receiving the re-allocation. 4. Details ----------- It is proposed to modify the current policy for the transfer of historical Internet resources, it is proposed that: 4.1 Until the allocation principles of the "final /8" policy [1] take effect, transfers of historical IPv4 address must meet the justification criteria of applied to transfers of current IPv4 address space, if such a policy exists; 4.2 If a transfer policy for current IPv4 transfers does not exist, then the recipient of a transfer of historical IPv4 address must justify use of the transferred space using the allocation and assignment policies in force at the time of the transfer. 4.3 After the allocation principles of the "final /8" policy [1] take effect, no justification is needed to transfer historical resources. 5. Pros/Cons ------------- 5.1 Advantages The utilization of historical IPv4 addresses will comply with address management policy for current resources. 5.2 Disadvantages None. 6. Effect on APNIC members --------------------------- All APNIC members will have to justify transfers of historical IPv4 addresses they receive, or subjected to justification criteria of transfer policy of current IPv4 resources. 7. Effect on NIRs ------------------ The proposal has no direct impact on NIRs, but impacts members of NIRs in the same way it impacts APNIC members. 8. References -------------- [1] See section 9.10, "Policies for IPv4 address space management in the Asia Pacific region" http://www.apnic.net/policy/add-manage-policy.html#9.10