Remember when IPv4 addresses were assigned/given out for free? Pepperidge Farms remembers. :) When did the company purchase them? Was it a private sale or thro

Remember when IPv4 addresses were assigned/given out for free? Pepperidge Farms remembers. :) When did the company purchase them? Was it a private sale or through a broker(?)? I'm curious as to the process, especially if it was more recent.