[Icp2-review] Enabling Companies to Preserve Their Intellectual Property

[Litha Zosiwe]

Today, if a business wants to grow globally, it could have to give up its
IP addresses when it moves from one RIR region to another.  IPv6
portability is not available anywhere, and inter-RIR transfers are not
permitted by AFRINIC.  Number portability fixes this, allowing companies to
retain their IP addresses in the same way that you keep your mobile number
when you switch carriers.

The proposed rule requires that regions and providers share IPv4 and IPv6
allocations.

Only the most minimal restrictions are allowed for responsible address
management.

For transfers, equity, timeliness, and transparency are crucial.

Procedure safety measures:

No arbitrary refusals.

Members can transfer resources if they challenge new policies or contract
clauses.

Accountability in Practice

Currently, the Governance Document requires ICANN to conduct audits if 25%
of Members request them. But what if the issue is governance of the RIR
itself? Members should have a precise mechanism:

A review is initiated by a petition endorsed by 100 members or 5% of the
members.

The NRO Executive Council carries out a comprehensive inquiry.  The results
are made public, and board members may be removed or censured.  In this
manner, rather of waiting for emergencies, the community may proactively
enforce accountability.
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