RIPE != RIPE-NCC (Score 3, Informative)

Actually RIPE is more analogous to NANOG (the North American Network Operator's Group). It is RIPE-NCC (the RIPE Network Coordination Centre) that is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Europe (and parts of the Middle East and Central Asia). RIR's are non-profit member organizations that oversee IP address and ASN registration and allocation.