It appears that Owen DeLong via NANOG <owen@delong.com> said:
Is there any one of the 5 jurisdictions where RIRs operate that do not define the existing RIR in that jurisdiction as a business?
I know, for example that ARIN is definitely a business by the applicable definition.
ARIN is a Virginia nonstock corporation which has a 501(c)(3) charitable registration with the IRS. It seems to be a theological argument whether you consider that to be a business. Most definitions of business include an intention to make a profit, which rules out ARIN.
I’m less familiar with the legal frameworks and charters of the other three, but I’m pretty sure RIPE NCC is a business by the rules there.
RIPE is a non-profit association under Dutch law. LACNIC is a non-profit association under Uruguay law. Same theological argument. APNIC is an Australian Pty Ltd so you can make a somewhat stronger argument that it's a business, although in practice it seems to operate a lot like ARIN, RIPE, and LACNIC. At this point I wouldn't try to guess what Afrinic is. R's, John