Maybe I missed the discussion in regards to 2007-01 where it was stated that the charging algorithm would change. For example, one LIR I consult to was extra small in 2008 (1300Euro) and now is medium (2550Euro). They assigned 54 ASNs between 1997-2005 and no IPv4 or IPv6 address space at all. So since the charging algorithm is now a retroactive recurring score, their bill doubled suddenly. I guess that's the risks involved with a pricing scheme change - they will just need to compensate by actually billing their customers for services they deliver ... I can still remember a time when ISPs in Germany would charge for any IPs they'd assign, even when they were from their (LIR) PA range ... and that was recurring fees, too ... for us, the pricing scheme change luckily doesn't result in additional cost, as we're pretty far down in the Medium range ... (though, from a percentage view, we did move up some from last year). Still, we are now preparing a letter to our customers informing them of a change in pricing, or rather, the new recurring pricing for usage of ASNs and IP-PI. The cost, when distributed evenly among all customers, is very resonable ... therefore I do not forsee too much of a fuss over it ...
Speaking of customers - what about customers who aren't an LIR's customers anymore? Can those PI assignments be "redirected" towards either RIPE or the new provider? Or the Enduser himself? Might be hard to come up out of the blue and send a bill over x€ in such a case ... -garry