[db-wg] NWI-10 Definition of Country

Colleagues
The DB-WG chairs have agreed to create "NWI-10 Definition of Country". This is an issue that has been debated many times over many years and needs a solution. The Solution Definition below is based on a presentation made at RIPE 78 by the RIPE NCC.
There has been very little discussion on this since RIPE 78 so perhaps we can have a final round of pros and cons over this next week and then see if we have a consensus.
cheersdenis
co-chair DB-WG

NWI-10 Definition of Country
Problem DefinitionThere is no clarity for the meaning of the country code attribute in the RIPE Database and the Extended Delegated statistics. This creates confusion and inconsistencies.
Historically the country code was used to refer to the location of the network. Until recently this location was, in most cases, identical to the legal presence of the resource holder. However, in recent years there has been a growing number of resource holders that have, for various reasons, their legal presence in one country, but the network located in another country. There is also a growing number of out-of-region members resulting in an increase in requests to update the country code in the Extended Delegated Statistics for different purposes (e.g. commercial).
While the country code attribute in the RIPE Database can be updated directly by the resource holder, the Extended Delegated Statistics are maintained by the RIPE NCC and they were created as part of a joint effort from the RIRs with a specific purpose.

Solution Definition1. The country code for resource objects in the RIPE Database should remain as it is currently, ie the resource holder remains responsible for maintaining this attribute and deciding what the country code should be, according to whatever criteria best suits their needs.
2. A new attribute should be added to the ORGANISATION object, which contains a country code that refers to where the resource holder is legally based. The RIPE NCC would be responsible for this field and would only make updates to this field after being provided with documentation that proves the resources holder is legally-based in another country. This would essentially be the same process for updating an organisation's legal name currently.
3. The new country code value in the ORGANISATION object would then be reflected in the Extended Delegated Statistics – so that this file will show where the holder of a resource is legally based and will not make any claims about where the resources are being used. This will ensure the Extended Delegated Statistics file is consistent with those published by the other RIRs. This may mean there is a greater divergence between the country code contained in resource objects in the RIPE Database and those listed in the statistics file. As the country code in the resource objects only has meaning to the resource holder, which should be made clear, this should not be a problem.

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