On 7/2/1997 10:10 AM, Paul Bradley said:
A simpler solution (which I believe was used for Unix distribution CD's) would be to encrypt the naughty bits using a strong algorithm, say 56 bit DES :-), but only distribute the decryption key to USA/Canadian citizens. If you could get this past the Export people, you could make a single CD available world-wide. Don't forget to escrow the key with the French authorities.
If someone made such a CD, then someone who obtained it within the US posted the key so people outside US/Canada could decrypt the data, who would be charged with exporting the software? Could there even be a case for charging anyone, after all, keys are not covered in the export regs???? It`s probably a moot point anyway as I doubt such a CD would be given an export licence.
Which reminds me of... Netscape can export 40-bit versions of Communicator, and according to one of their own employees (search back in the archives if you don't believe me) the only difference between the 40-bit version and the 128-bit version is a license file. Now license files aren't covered in export regulations, are they? So it's legal to export the 40-bit version of Communicator (which contains disabled 128-bit crypto) and it's legal to export the license file. Sounds like it's either not true or the government is stupider than I thought or the government is tired of trying to enforce such futile laws. Wesley Felter - wesley@binarycompass.com - Binary Compass Enterprises In BizRate we trust - <http://www.bizrate.com/> Disclaimer: My employer knows I'm crazy.