Re: [address-policy-wg] Fwd: selling ip:s? (kf)

["Peter Galbavy" <]

Darko Bulat wrote:
> That IP numbers cannot be OWNED, and therefore, since noone can
> claim ownership over certain IP number or IP range, noone is ENTITLED
> to SELL it, and noone is, therefore, able to buy it.

The word is here is "license" (or "licence" whichever). Except in a few
cases, I understand licenses can be transferred between unrelated parties. I
believe that trying to restrict this transfer (with or without fee) may be
against anti-competition and unfair contract law in the EU - especially
given the natural monopoly that RIPE has in its operating region. I am not a
lawyer, I have just read (and probably misunderstood and misremembered) many
computer law books. See words and phrases like "novation" or "company name
change" for some starters...

The important thing is to find a wording in the license agreement between
RIPE and the first licensee that makes this transfer pointless. Maybe. Or
that RIPE must have first option to acquire the license for a nominal 1 euro
or something.

rgds,
--
Peter