Piet,
What is "actual RIPE database"? Lots of the info therein is coming from local registries, in whatever format the latter maintain their info/database. The actual database is that one with source: RIPE in its etries.
This is needed because local registries often use the RIPE-NCC database software package. I fail to see what this has to do with the case. And I don't even know whether your statement is correct: some registries may maintain their database in a "RIPE-like" format without using the RIPE-NCC database software package.
In this case they do not have problems with the RIPE handle.
I think it would be easier and better to define other suffixes which could be used (and accepted by the software). The local registry then simply send person entries which already contain unique handles to the NCC. See above: a local registry may generate unique handles, but they don't serve the purpose of uniqueness in the context where that uniqueness is required.
If an handle is unique it could be used in many different contexts, i.e. database with source: RIPE and source: SOMETHINGELSE ---------- ---------- Antonio_Blasco Bonito E-Mail: bonito@nis.garr.it GARR - Network Information Service c=it;a=garr;p=garr;o=nis;s=bonito c/o CNUCE - Istituto del CNR Tel: +39 (50) 593246 Via S. Maria, 36 Telex: 500371 CNUCE I 56126 PISA Italy Fax: +39 (50) 904052 ---------- ----------