The question of whether IPv4 numbers qualify as property has been the subject of much discussion over the years. As lawyers working within this domain, the principals of Avenue4 have researched the subject extensively. Although the answer is not as crisp as many would like, after balancing the conflicting considerations, we believe the common law supports finding property rights in IPv4 numbers.
As the ARIN free pool steadily dwindles to empty – now with the lowest number of IPv4 addresses of any RIR, prices bottom out, and news on IPv4 exhaustion picks up speed. Meanwhile, the UK government comes off the sidelines, selling its first trance of numbers in the IPv4 market.
ARIN and LACNIC are now running neck and neck for most depleted free pool. RIPE’s interRIR transfer policy should be ready for primetime in August and LACNIC is again exploring whether it wants to join RIPE, ARIN and APNIC in the global transfer market.
RIPE NCC published a policy yesterday (April 9th) that will link the ARIN, RIPE and APNIC IPv4 markets. Ripe-644 allows inter-RIR transfers between the RIPE service region and other RIR regions, which will facilitate IPv4 sales between companies across regions.