Does anyone know why IANA has assigned NS and A records to the example.{com,org,net,...} domains? They even put up a website at the IP explaining RFC 2606.
because they are owned by the IANA.
* Why did they assign NSs and a valid IP to these invalid domains?
they are not invalid.
* Are they breaking the RFC by doing this?
Nope.
* Are they breaking anti-UCE filters by doing this? (yes)
Perhaps.
* Are they harvesting URLs and referrers?
Ask the current IANA.
* Will they next advertise routes for RFC 1918 addresses?
Perhaps. They do authorize authoritative DNS service for these blocks in the public Internet.
-- Roger Marquis Roble Systems Consulting http://www.roble.com/
--bill (one-time IANA jock, who set up the DNS for RFC 1918 space and the example domains)