On Oct 3, 2023, at 1:05 AM, John Santos <[email protected]> wrote:
On 10/2/2023 5:42 PM, John Curran wrote:
Alas, your proposed analogy fails when there is no vehicle, but only the 
registry entry itself – i.e. Internet number resources are unique identifiers 
within the Internet Numbers Registry System, and this includes ranges (or 
“blocks”) of contiguous Internet Protocol (“IP”) addresses and Autonomous 
System Numbers (“ASNs”)…

I disagree.  The registry entry itself is *NOT* just the address range (block) 
or ASN.  It is a tuple consisting of a resource (the block of IP4 or IP6 
addresses or an ASN) *AND* a holder of that resource.

On this we actually agree: note that I said “(the analogy fails when there is) 
only the registry entry itself" not “only an address range" – the registry 
entry consists of an address range  _and_ the holder of the resource _and_ any 
associated parameters.

The function of a registry is to maintain that list of tuples, insure 
uniqueness (including overlaps and subsets) of the resources (there can only be 
one holder for a particular block or ASN, although a holder can be associated 
with multiple resources), and define requirements for holders to register 
blocks or ASNs.

I think it is losing sight of the fact that the registry is a list of tuples, 
not just a list of integers, that causes a lot of confusion.

Alas, there is no confusion in this regard – the confusion exists on how 
registry entries are actually created, despite this having undeniably been done 
over time through “allocation” and “assignment” processes.

In ARIN, we have historically used the term “allocation" for registry entries 
issued to ISPs, and “assignment" for registry entries issued to end-users.  The 
terms “Direct Assignment” and “Direct Allocation” reflect the output of actual 
processes that occurred, and hence the terminology is accurate.   Registration 
is a wholly distinct principle, in which a party presents an item, has it 
cataloged, and receives a unique identifier or handle for that item – this is 
indeed what occurs with titles to tangible items such as property and motor 
vehicles, but also intangible items such as the issuance of patent numbers for 
inventions. (i.e., in the cases of registration, the item exists independently 
of its cataloging)

ARIN presently uses the terms Direct Allocations and Direct Assignments for the 
address blocks issued to parties, and the community has the option to simplify 
terminology and just use "Direct Allocations” if it so wishes.

Switching to use just the term “Direct Registration” does not appear feasible, 
as ARIN continues to make allocations today of both IPv4 and IPv6 number 
resources and referring to the output of these acts simply as “registrations” 
of number resources would be inaccurate.

Thanks,
/John

John Curran
President and CEO
American Registry for Internet Numbers

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