----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Helms" <khelms@ispalliance.net>
My 2 cents, in the few cases that we've been involved with that dealt with reclaiming space the backbone providers have universally followed what is in the ARIN database. If you need a block routed they generally will not take action until the SWIP is complete and the same is true when pulling space back that had been in use. Since the major ISPs (and most of the minor ones as well) filter the BGP they get from customer they can prevent the advertisement of blocks that are disputed.
Stipulated. But are they going to go up against someone big? Do Lilly, DuPont and Merck need /8? HP need a /7? What if one of those blocks was the subject here? Apple? I will in turn stipulate that these events are not likely. But they're certainly not impossible. Cheers, -- jra