IPv4 transfer policies are the rules and guidelines established by Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) to govern the transfer of IPv4 address blocks between organizations. These policies are designed to ensure that the transfer of IP address space is conducted in an orderly, fair, and transparent manner, and to prevent the misuse or hoarding of these increasingly scarce resources.
RIPE NCC Transfer Policies
The RIPE NCC, which serves Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia, has documented policies that apply to all IPv4 address space allocated and assigned by the RIPE NCC. These policies must be followed by all RIPE NCC member Local Internet Registries (LIRs). The document RIPE-733 outlines the IPv4 address allocation and assignment policies, including those for transfers.
ARIN Transfer Policies
The ARIN community has developed policies to govern IP address transfers, which are rigorous but largely routine. These policies require proof of ownership and a documented “chain of title” to establish ownership for the transfer to be recognized by ARIN. The chain of title is a record of ownership documenting the sequence of transfers of ownership of any property, including IP addresses. ARIN requires authenticated copies of documents describing the transfer of assets, such as asset purchase agreements, bills of sale, and merger agreements, to validate ownership.
Sanctions and Regulation of IP Transfers
Registries have developed policies enabling the transfer of IP addresses to ensure that transfers are under their control. When organizations agree to transfer addresses, they are transferring the rights for a registration in a database, which informs the routing of information on the internet. The RIRs and National Internet Registries manage these databases, and for a transfer to occur, the organizations transferring resources, the registry managing ownership records, and the recipient must all agree to the transfer.
IPv4 Exhaustion and Transfer Policies
As IPv4 exhaustion became a reality, RIRs like APNIC and ARIN implemented transfer policies that included a “demonstrated need” requirement to prevent stockpiling and to discourage black market activities. These policies allow for the transfer of both “legacy” and “current” IPv4 address space within and between regions. The transfer policies do not make any material distinction between legacy and current IPv4 address space.
Lastly
IPv4 transfer policies are essential for managing the distribution of the limited IPv4 address space that remains post-exhaustion. They are designed to ensure that transfers are legitimate, to prevent the misuse of IP addresses, and to maintain the integrity and reliability of internet routing. These policies are set by RIRs and are subject to change as the community’s needs evolve and as IPv4 addresses become more scarce.