Why should businesses stand up for IP address ownership?

Number Resource Society (NRS), the Casablanca, Morocco-based non-profit organisation that focuses attention on the complexities of IP address ownership, is urging business owners globally, especially in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf region, to take a stand on the rights and control of their IP addresses.

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is the unique identifying numeric label assigned to every device that connects to the internet.

Backed by experts in internet infrastructure and policies, the organisation empowers business owners with knowledge and resources to assert control over their IP addresses and registrations, ultimately safeguarding the future of their businesses.

The non-profit organisation aims to build a more equitable and accessible internet community, allowing every resource member to join, participate, and voice their interest in internet policymaking and governance.

IP addresses ownership

The crux of the matter lies in the ownership of IP addresses, the foundational building blocks of the internet, says the NRS.

As per the Number Resource Organization, an advocate for businesses and academic institutions, IP addresses are not owned by the organisations that use them.

This lack of ownership is exacerbated by the fact that policies surrounding IP addresses tend to change with barely any notice or that many policies are made with little transparency, avers the NRS.

These critical IP addresses are managed by only five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) worldwide.

Those registries predominantly control these addresses. While some RIRs fulfil exemplary roles, others need help enhancing their policymaking and quality of governance.

The NRS maintains that involving the internet community in policymaking is crucial, as these policies directly dictate who has the right to IP addresses. Such policies effectively determine who can access the internet.

Unbridled authority

Remarkably, RIRs even have the authority to revoke IP addresses, potentially disrupting an entire organisation’s internet connectivity.

The NRS recognises the significant risks this concentrated control over IP addresses poses to organisations and the broader internet landscape.

The organisation believes that the ownership of unique IP address registrations within a globally coordinated database should rest with the companies running the networks rather than a centralised body determining the fate of internet access for all.

With its slogan – Internet for all – NRS brings that awareness through seminars, workshops, and expert advice.

For more information about the NRS: info@nrs.help