We cannot really stop anyone from becoming a LIR... -- RIPE Hostmaster

> The following is an extract from a series of communications on the
> subject of RIPE having recently authorised the addition of another
> LIR in the UK, which uses the same trading name of an existing
> member.  It is our feeling that RIPE should not have allowed the
> addition of this LIR on the basis that the company in question
> trades using a name which could easily confuse the general public
> as to which company is which and that since our company was an
> existing member, and had previously been a LIR in another country
> as well, they should have decline the application of the LIR on
> the basis that their trading name could cause a conflict and
> confuse the general public, and would further cause damage to an
> existing member's company and reputation.

Hm, this seems like a strange request.

The point of contest here seems to be the trading name used by the
company who is now a (newly established) LIR, not that organization's
ability to become a LIR.  I don't see how the RIPE NCC can be
concerned about the use of a trading name by an applicant for LIR
status, and the possible infringement on someone else's rights to that
name or the potential for resulting market confusion.  This issue
should instead be brought before the apporpriate authority, which I
assume would be some part of the legal system in the UK.

Of course, I'm not a lawyer, and I even don't play one on the net, but
thus just seemed too obvious...

- Håvard