DES, RSA export from U.S.

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2 total messages Started by strnlght@netcom. Mon, 22 Feb 1993 20:31

#3931

Author: strnlght@netcom.
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1993 20:31

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We may soon see a change to the U.S. export policies that many here will
welcome. Just now, at a meeting at Silicon Graphics in California with
President Clinton and Vice President Gore, Gore said in response to a
general export control question that [stuff about  some controls for nuclear
non-proliferation being needed] some controls need looking at. He gave the
example of software that can be bought off-the-shelf but can't be exported,
and called that "a little unrealistic". Gore also said they're going to do
something about the case where one has to apply for an export license each
time, each one gets approved, but it takes six months each time.

As those who read carefully know, though I am concerned about uses I think a
violation of either patent or munitions law, I would welcome changes that
would make pgp at least not a violation of U.S. import/export law. Then all
we need do in the U.S. is resolve the RSA patent issue, hopefully with RSA's
cooperation. At least the notion of a European version of Ripem would no
longer be in question, since both DES and RSA (in Europe) would no longer
raise questions about violation of U.S. law, and neither is patented in
Europe. That would make Ripem inter-communication for non-commerical use
possible with completely clean hands internationally, and might at least
advance the same for PGP.

David
--
David Sternlight
RIPEM Public Key on server  --  Consider it an envelope for your e-mail

Re: DES, RSA export from U.S.

#3938

Author: mathew
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1993 11:59

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strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
> As those who read carefully know, though I am concerned about uses I think a
> violation of either patent or munitions law, I would welcome changes that
> would make pgp at least not a violation of U.S. import/export law. Then all
> we need do in the U.S. is resolve the RSA patent issue, hopefully with RSA's
> cooperation.

*Snort*

Yeah, sure.

If PKP were actually interested in making money by licensing their patents,
they could send out a press release saying "For $20 we'll send you a bit of
paper saying you're personally allowed to use the RSA algorithm".  Then all
they'd need to do would be employ a couple of secretaries to sit there and
collect the money.

>             At least the notion of a European version of Ripem would no
> longer be in question, since both DES and RSA (in Europe) would no longer
> raise questions about violation of U.S. law, and neither is patented in
> Europe. That would make Ripem inter-communication for non-commerical use
> possible with completely clean hands internationally, and might at least
> advance the same for PGP.

RIPEM communication is already possible.  The license only prohibits
exporting RIPEM, it doesn't prohibit people in Europe from sharing copies
around once it has somehow made its way across the Atlantic.

Of course, given that you argued that it was morally wrong to use PGP because
it had at one stage been illegally exported, the consistent thing would be
for you to argue that it is now morally wrong to use RIPEM.

But somehow I doubt you'll do that.

mathew

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