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- Xref: sparky sci.crypt:6105 alt.security.pgp:392
- Path: sparky!uunet!ogicse!flop.ENGR.ORST.EDU!leela.CS.ORST.EDU!atlantis.CS.ORST.EDU!mcbeeb
- From: mcbeeb@atlantis.CS.ORST.EDU (Brian Mcbee)
- Newsgroups: sci.crypt,alt.security.pgp
- Subject: Re: PKP/RSA comments on PGP legality
- Message-ID: <1h918aINNetv@leela.CS.ORST.EDU>
- Date: 23 Dec 92 06:33:46 GMT
- Article-I.D.: leela.1h918aINNetv
- References: <1992Dec21.194928.2449@netcom.com> <bontchev.725036591@fbihh> <1992Dec22.203159.23174@netcom.com>
- Organization: Computer Science Outreach Services - Oregon State University
- Lines: 37
- NNTP-Posting-Host: atlantis.cs.orst.edu
-
- In article <1992Dec22.203159.23174@netcom.com> strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
-
- +In the U.S., I argue the law, since the issue is patents and that RSA
- +has one, and that the Munitions act covers imports as well as exports.
-
- If your intent is to warn us all that we might be breaking the law,
- consider us warned. Personally, until I hear from a disinterested
- attorney with expertise in this field, or until I see a conviction in
- a court of law, I'm not convinced. But I have been warned. Can we get
- on with it?
-
- +In Europe, where I have never argued RSA's patents apply, and I have
- +never argued the U.S. Munitions laws apply, I argue the ethics of
- +taking an invention without compensation. Like most such discussions
- +here, these arguments have evolved as we learn from each other. That
- +argument also applies in the U.S.
-
- If you really are arguing a moral stand, perhaps you can explain why
- at the end of 17 years (or whatever the protection is for patents),
- your moral and ethical obligation suddenly disappears?
-
- +Thus I suggest for Vesselin's (and others') consideration that they
- +may be violating the laws of the countries they are in by using PGP
- +without (for example) getting permission from the appropriate
- +Minister, as in France. If true, that would make all the posturing
- +about how the U.S. Munitions laws don't apply to Europe and hence PGP
- +is o.k. completely bogus.
-
- +In the case of Vesselin, specifically, I suggest he check out
- +the German crypto and Munitions laws, since that's where he
- +apparently has PGP on a computer. If he's planning to use it
- +in Bulgaria, he may also wish to check out those laws.
-
- +David
-
- I see, now you are a shill for governments world-wide. Don't you
- have any interests of your own to watch out for?
-