[db-wg] created: field value

My apologies to all.  I don't intend to be a complainer.  I'm just trying
to understand fully what's going on in the data base.

I must say however that I am getting the impression that the value in
the created: field for some (many?) inetnum objects may not be entirely
reliable, or even entirely consistant with other available historical data.

Example:

inetnum:        138.201.0.0 - 138.201.255.255
netname:        HETZNER-RZ-BLK-ERX4
descr:          Server Block
country:        DE
org:            ORG-HOA1-RIPE
admin-c:        HOAC1-RIPE
tech-c:         HOAC1-RIPE
status:         LEGACY
mnt-by:         HOS-GUN
mnt-lower:      HOS-GUN
mnt-routes:     HOS-GUN
mnt-domains:    HOS-GUN
created:        1970-01-01T00:00:00Z
last-modified:  2019-12-04T13:10:40Z
source:         RIPE

Given that 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z is rather well known to be the beginning
of UNIX time (i.e. time: 0) I could not help but be a bit suspicious of
the value in the created: field of the record shown above.

A quick look at version #1 of the data base object for the 138.201.0.0/16
block suggests that a rather more appropriate value might have been
something more like 2003-12-11T17:11:00Z

========================================================================
% Version 1 of object "138.201.0.0 - 138.201.255.255"
% This version was a UPDATE operation on 2003-12-11 17:11

inetnum:        138.201.0.0 - 138.201.255.255
remarks:
remarks:        This inetnum has been transfered as part of the ERX.
remarks:        It was present in both the ARIN and RIPE databases, so
remarks:        the information from both databases has been merged.
remarks:        If you are the mntner of this object, please update it
remarks:        to reflect the correct information.
remarks:
remarks:        Please see the information for this process:
remarks:        http://www.ripe.net/db/erx/erx-ip/network-138.html
remarks:
remarks:        **** INFORMATION FROM ARIN OBJECT ****
remarks:        netname: NETCS-CUST4
descr:          netCS Informationstechnik GmbH
descr:          Feuerbachstrasse 47/49
descr:          D-1000 Berlin 41
remarks:        country: DE
remarks:        changed: hostmaster at arin.net 19900523
remarks:        changed: hostmaster at arin.net 20010220
remarks:        **** INFORMATION FROM RIPE OBJECT ****
netname:        KIEZ-NET1
descr:          Kiez-Net WAN
country:        DE
rev-srv:        DNS-A.Kiez.Net
rev-srv:        DNS-B.Kiez.Net
status:         ASSIGNED PI
mnt-by:         KIEZ-MNT
source:         RIPE # Filtered


Am I the only one who thinks so?

It is certainly my hope that the value in the created: field should accurately
reflect the date & time when any given object was in fact created within the
RIPE WHOIS data base.  Is there any compelling reason why this should ever
not be the case?


Regards,
rfg