[members-discuss] Executive Board Resolution on Legacy Internet Resource Holders

Hi Radu, 

> Could someone remind us why in the first place:
> - a legacy block can be broken into smaller pieces (which can then be
> transferred)

Why shouldn't it ? The database allows assigning space to a third party .. but it also allows Allocating space to a third party. 
Allocating being the more permanent version ...  in RIPE PA terms, a transfer. 

> - after the transfer, the parts of the old legacy block still remain
> tagged as legacy

True 

> - what stops the "convert to PA" (or PI, whatever) from being a
> prerequisite to a transfer (or even to a split of the original legacy
> block)

This is a legal issue. As RIPE doesn't own Legacy space, it can't enforce this by policy .. as Legacy doesn't fall under policy. Legacy is an ASSET of the legal holder. 
And with RIPE PA space, the user of the IP space only holds the right of use, while they have a good standing with the RIPE NCC ( pay their fees for the LIR membership ) 

If you stop paying your ripe membership fees, you lose your rights that are connected to that LIR ( including the Right of use of the IP space) 
Not with Legacy .. as RIPE isn't able to 'reclaim' an asset that isn't theirs ... 

In that regard, I truely don't understand why the RIPE NCC asks legacy space holders if they want to convert their legacy space to RIPE PA space ... which has a huge impact for the rights of the legacy space holders... 

> - more generally why the stance of "giving full rights to legacy
> holders", but with only voluntary respect of the obligations

That has to do with the historic rights that were given with the IP space, before the RIPE NCC was established..  It isn't that legacy holders are given full rights, they already had the rights before RIPE NCC was established. 

> 
> I can understand that a legacy space holder can keep the space
> "received" before the existence of the NCC, but not the fact that others
> can acquire that kind of space and pretend to the same treatment.

Yes, they can. And the RIPE NCC is right not to try to step into that pitfall as they are not a party between the legal holder and the new legal holder.
Just because the RIPE NCC is in the same business of leasing out IP space to others, doesn't mean that they can meddle with other parties in the same region that have a similar status as the RIPE NCC ( legacy holders being able to Allocate space to other parties) .. even if they are not called a RIR ... 

And on a last note on the point of the board in regards of stopping the free lir sign-up for legacy holders ... I think this should be stopped directly. <period> 

We don't have to sponsor legacy space holders in order to become a LIR.. if they can't cough up a setup fee after being able to use the space for free since 1994, they will never be able to pay the membership fees.. and I'm not buying that sobbing story .. 
It will also stop the agreements for small /29 or /28 legacy prefixes just to get a free /22.. 

Regards,
Erik Bais

> -- 
> Radu-Adrian FEURDEAN
> 
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