Hi All I raised an idea before the last RIPE Meeting but it did not generate a lot of interest at that time. I brought it up again yesterday on the Anti Abuse WG list and it seemed to get quite a bit of support. So I will bring it back to the DB WG as it is a DB issue. I have CC'ed both AA WG and Routing WG for information. But it may be useful to keep the discussion now on the DB WG list. I don't claim this will solve all the problems of the universe, but it does satisfy an immediate goal to have all ROUTE objects in the RIPE Database created with the knowledge and approval of the related resource holders. And I believe it could be implemented in a relatively short space of time giving immediate benefits. cheers denis STEP 1 Any ROUTE object submitted for creation in the RIPE Database involving an out of region resource (address space and/or ASN) where that out of region resource does not exist in the authoritative RIR database (has not been allocated or assigned), reject the creation. The RIPE NCC mirrors the operational data from all the other 4 RIRs. These mirrors are updated daily as well as the RIRs daily stats. It is easy to determine if a resource is registered in the authoritative database. STEP 2 For those ROUTE objects from STEP 1 where the out of region resource does exist, hold the object creation as pending. The mechanism for doing this already exists in the RIPE Database software as it is used for multiple authentications. Lookup the out of region resource(s) in the authoritative database(s) and find the contacts for that resource. Send a notification to those contacts informing them of the pending ROUTE object creation in the RIPE Database. The notification mechanism already exists in the RIPE Database software. If they don't approve, do nothing and the creation request will time out after a week and the object will not be created. If they do approve, respond in some way (many technical options for doing this that the RIPE NCC can choose from). If appropriate approval(s) are received within a week, create the ROUTE object. STEP 3 On a daily basis, for each ROUTE object in the RIPE Database that relates to an out of region resource, check for the continued existence of that resource in the appropriate RIR database. If it no longer exists, delete the ROUTE object from the RIPE Database. STEP 4 This is a one off cleanup of existing ROUTE objects. For all ROUTE objects currently in the RIPE Database that relate to an out of region, existing resource, send the appropriate notifications. For any that no response is received, delete the ROUTE object from the RIPE Database. We can be a bit more generous on the timing for this step and even send multiple reminder notifications to be sure. (Possible) STEP 5 If a delete request is sent to the RIPE Database for a ROUTE object related to out of region address space without the proper authorisation, send a notification to the contacts for the authoritative address space holder. If an appropriate response is received back, delete the ROUTE object. This would simulate the reclaim functionality for RIPE address space holders. AUT-NUM copies Another byproduct of implementing this is that we no longer need to hold copies of AUT-NUM objects in the RIPE Database. The out of region ASN auth requirement is satisfied by the appropriate response to the notification. So all 'foreign' AUT-NUM objects could be immediately deleted. (Or after allowing time for these ASN holders to make sure their routing policy is actually up to date in the authoritative AUT-NUM object.)