APNIC recognizes that there are various scenarios where the transfer of IPv4 resources may occur:
When buying APNIC IPv4 address space, the transfer process involves the transfer of address blocks between LIRs (Local Internet Registries). These transfers are accurately recorded in the APNIC Whois Database to ensure network integrity and provide an up-to-date record of address distribution.
Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) are established under the authority of IANA and serve large geographical regions. Their primary responsibility is to manage, distribute, and register public Internet address space within their respective regions. The five RIRs currently in operation are AfriNIC, APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC, and the RIPE NCC.
A Local Internet Registry (LIR) typically refers to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that can assign address space to its own network infrastructure and its customers, including downstream ISPs that further allocate addresses to their own customers.
In a resource transfer, the source refers to the organization that holds the resources before the transfer, and it must be a current APNIC account holder if it is within the APNIC region. If the source is from another RIR region, it must be equivalent to the "source" as defined by that RIR.
The recipient in a resource transfer is the organization that becomes the legitimate holder of the resources after the transfer is completed. If the recipient is within the APNIC region, it must be a current APNIC account holder. For recipients from other RIR regions, they must meet the equivalent criteria defined by that RIR.
Current resources are Internet resources registered by APNIC under explicit policies and agreements. These resources encompass public IPv4 addresses, IPv6 addresses, and Autonomous System numbers.