Bob Cain writes:
It is true that there was a great deal of enmity between RSA's president, Jim Bidzos, and Phil but that was just starting to thaw a year or so ago when I let Jim know that Phil was interested in
"Just starting to thaw"? Have you checked recently? As recently as last Friday night, when I talked to Phil on the phone, the polar icecap was small by comparison.
licensing RSA's patents (for those that haven't bothered to check, RSA's fees are incredibly reasonable) because there were some businesses interested in using PGP that wouldn't because of its geurillaware status. I believe that they worked something out or Phil would not have been pursuing the commercial work he got busted/hassled for by the fed. I don't think that RSA deserves any suspicion with regard to Phil's troubles.
About Phil having worked something out, you are very misinformed. What Phil did was to do an end-run arount RSA's objections, and without RSA's foreknowledge, by working with ViaCrypt, which has already obtained its own license. Reports are that Bidzos was furious, but nothing could be done. (I haven't talked to Bidzos since last April, so of course I can't confirm his side. I have confirmed this in talks with Phil.) About any RSA involvement with the Grand Jury issue, RSA was interviewed and was copied on memos written by the investigators, according to copies obtained (legally) by Phil Zimmermann. What this means is anyone's guess, but it ought to be borne in mind. I don't necessarily view Bidzos as an agent of the AntiChrist as some do, but things are definitely complicated and soap operish. The "Phil and Jim Show" has a few more episodes. --Tim May -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power:2**859433 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available.