On Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 2:51 AM, John R. Levine <johnl@iecc.com> wrote:
As the article made quite clear, they're into the last /8, but they are months if not at least a year away from running out. Due to the way that space is reclaimed and reallocated, they'll probably continue to have some even after this /8 is given out. If they were a more careful about who they give space to, they'd have even more. (RIPE has a big problem with fake LIRs run by crooks.)
Local Internet Registries (LIRs) include ISPs, Enterprises, Academic Institutions etc although clearly they have to be first a member of a Regional Internet Registry (RIR)or in ICANN lingo an ASO. As one can imagine, without a doubt ISPs are licensed within their respective countries and subject to regulations within their countries. On the occasion where there was hint of impropriety, no doubt the respective law enforcement within the LIR's jurisdiction or the regulators will have jurisdiction to seek the appropriate relief. This is easy to say and much much harder to do in reality.