Re: Database proposal

[Andrew Crawford <]

On Mon, 8 Sep 1997, TOB wrote:

> The idea is that only the provider and RIPE(and of course the customer
> itself) knows the individual assignments. It should be implemented by
> hiding individual assignments in the RIPE database for everyone. If a
> provider does not take a proper action in e.g hacker cases RIPE should
> have the right to identify who the exact user of e.g a /24 is.

I disagree with this plan. The advantages of having the user of an
allocation readily identifiable vastly outweigh the potential threat from
spammers, or from any other marketing activity.

Open access to the allocation database is an important factor in keeping
registries, and their customers honest. If a customer comes to me
requesting address space, I can easily check for any allocation they might
already have from other registries, and find out if any space needs to be
returned, etc. I can also find out if their existing contact handles are
appropriate to the new application, saving me time, NCC disk space, and
everyone the hassle of unnecessary duplication of data.

In addition, any ISP should be able to determine the source network of an
abusive user *immediately* and without beurocratic delay.

Lastly, and most importantly, RIPE should not be expected to artbitrate or
judge in cases of dispute between ISPs where identity information is
requested. To do so would be to enter a particularly unpleasant legal
quagmire, which we, as funding contributors, might all find ourselves
paying for.

Andrew Crawford
Operations Engineer
Nildram Ltd