-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Date sent: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 21:43:07 -0700 From: Bill Trost <trost@cloud.rain.com> Subject: copyrighting algorithms To: Wolfgang Roeckelein <wolfgang@wi.WHU-Koblenz.de> Copies to: rross@sci.dixie.edu (Russell Ross), ssl-talk@netscape.com, cypherpunks@toad.com Wolfgang Roeckelein writes: >I wasn't aware that you could copyright an algorithm. Patent, >yes, but not copyright. Intellectual property meens secret, >right? Aren't there any precendence cases involving propriety >schemes that are reverse engineered? =snipped= bt> As for the quoted material, "Intellectual property meens [sic] bt> secret" is quite mistaken. Copyright and patents are the two most bt> common forms of intellectual property (AFAIK), and neither of them are bt> secret (unless they're classified patents, but never mind...). from _computer_digest_ (raleigh,nc edition) august 1995... "In the past, the office (U.S. Patent Office) has contended that because software is a mathematical process, it can only be - -protected- and not -patented- by copyright law. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled in several recent cases that inventors deserve patents because the programming was integral to the machine." ... The office announced in March that it would propose new rules for embedded software patents and published them in the June 2 Federal Register..." Spokesman Richard Maulsby said the agency hopes to have final quidelines in place by September. Under law, the office issues patents for 'machines', 'articles of manufacture' and 'processes'. The proposed rules tell patent examiners how to determine whether software proposed for patenting meets the criteria. Under the proposed rules: 'A computer or other programmable apparatus whose actions are directed by a computer program or other form of software is a statutory "machine". A computer-readable memory that can be used to direct a computer to function in a particular manner when used by the computer is a statutory "article of manufacture". A series of specific operational steps to be performed on or with the aid of a computer is a statutory "process." What isn't patentable? According to the rules: 'A compilation or arrangement of data independent of any physical element,' meaning no hardware. ... The guidelines are available on the patent office's World Wide Web server at http://www.uspto.gov. The patent office is accepting comments on the proposed guidelines through July 31. ... Comments can ... be sent by Internet electronic mail to: comments-softwarepro.gov. ============================= obcrypto: would this give any more ammunition to companies like rsa in protecting their algorythm? amp <0003701548@mcimail.com> <alan.pugh@internetmci.com> PGP Key = 4A2683C1 July 29, 1995 12:35 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.61 iQEVAwUBMBo5NigP1O9KJoPBAQG53wf/e1/gO4BxqZ1DTEv6/XQ13amQtQ9iKnr6 tgQJ37XwwR45fd87X+du68yDVjFZSKp6A27PCtfxkGmi8v0gHdGYKenaWnv4CWs7 KhP+7f/ZyVND5oYd4HEMDnVJCVsRA2Kd1BaXbFlxmp+URH9XZkr0aOdvtOqngyCA qgpQ8jD4duu1HwwHQyj47mxgkncEfN1H5mAFyaLA+Lgx6yhvaZqedzMZokGkqOPR bZMKhodYhOatmtyEwxciS2sqj3DYq7w+XC57sSSz+raOEmDhfq8/UNctJ6+d4vuH PWk26vbfxMAKKzsq5VRwf3XvAjvT4ky+KJgCDaFezmBa2dXvw/K+Lw== =SNY7 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ********************************************* * / Only God can see the whole * * O[%\%\%{<>===========================- * * \ Mandlebrot Set at Once! * * amp * * <0003701548@mcimail.com> * * <alan.pugh@internetmci.com> * ********************************************* Key fingerprint = A7 97 70 0F E2 5B 95 7C DB 7C 2B BF 0F E1 69 1D