The RIRs' policy forums are now considering what the appropriate registry policies should be when the allocation function for IPv4 addresses has terminated. Attempting to apply the same policy principles that were used to guide the address allocation function to the registry function is causing some level of confusion. Here previous practice becomes confused with the generic principles, and the differing characteristics of allocation and registry functions are not being clearly distinguished.
To read this article by Geoff Huston on his blog in full, see:www.potaroo.net/ispcol/2008-11/transfers.html