The Department of Work and Pensions, UK has an entire /8

Wed Sep 19 21:02:30 UTC 2012

Robert,

On Sep 19, 2012, at 1:35 PM, Robert Guerra <rguerra at privaterra.org> wrote:
> Am I correct in assuming that the unused IP block would not be sold as is mentioned in the article, but instead  be returned to RIPE to be reallocated?

Assuming for the sake of argument that the 51/8 is actually unused (which it apparently isn't), the UK gov't would be under no contractual obligation to return the address space to IANA (which is (arguably) the allocating registry, not RIPE) -- I believe that "class A" was allocated prior to the existence of the RIRs and registration service agreements.

Regards,
-drc