------- Forwarded Message Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 17:56:13 -0700 From: Gavin Doughtie <gavin@well.sf.ca.us> Message-Id: <199304290056.AA26690@well.sf.ca.us> To: gnu@toad.com Subject: Electronic escrow? How could two paranoid entities make use of digital cash and encryption to sell a chunk of data (letUs say something really valuable like a list of famous women linked to Elvis Presley in 1992) without 1) revealing their identities to each other or 2) involving a third party to act as an RescrowS agent. The paradox IUm thinking about is one where the purchaser of the information doesnUt want the sellerUs digital cash to be worth anything until the data being sold can be provably decrypted, and the seller doesnUt want the info being sold to be decryptable until the cash turns out to be genuine. You're a well-known cryptography person; I'm a struggling writer. If you're not inclined to respond, perhaps you can direct this message to someone who can. Thanks very much! Gavin. ------- End of Forwarded Message