NSA harassing crypto software writer over export (fwd, sci.crypt)
- NSA harassment alive and well - is this company a `small fish'? doesn't NSA have something better to do? - his request is overbroad, but still needs some kind of help - maybe the laywers on the list can help out too ===cut=here=== From: grady@netcom.com (Grady Ward) Subject: help me fight NSA Organization: Moby lexicons Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1993 23:54:54 GMT An individual at the NSA has recently been warning my publisher of Moby Crypto that they will be breaking the law if they export the product. Since I do not include any executables, only source and other documentation that routinely appears in textbooks that are exported, I think this hasseling is unwarranted and unconstitutional. Since knocking heads with the NSA may result in some kind of process, I need some assistance to bolster my case. What you can do: please send me a reference on every book or magazine article you are aware of that contains any 'source code'. The code can be a fragment or in any computer language as long as it implements encryption or other material that would be export controlled if incoporated in an executable. I think collecting a large number of these citations will help my attornies in pointing out the absurdity of the situation to government attornies if necessary. Please e-mail any citations that you have. Thanks ahead of time. Grady Ward grady@netcom.com
What exactly is "Moby Crypto"? Is it a book? A disk? The current law can be interpreted to mean that a piece of code on paper is legal, but on a disk is not. Clearly, this is what the NSA is doing. Stupid? Yes, IMHO. But the government has refused to see it this way. This person does not need lawyers. He needs congresscritters, preferably a majority of them :-/ Marc
What exactly is "Moby Crypto"? Is it a book? A disk? The current law can be interpreted to mean that a piece of code on paper is legal, but on a disk is not. Clearly, this is what the NSA is doing. Stupid? Yes, IMHO. But the government has refused to see it this way. This person does not need lawyers. He needs congresscritters, preferably a majority of them :-/
I think collecting a large number of these citations will help my attornies in pointing out the absurdity of the situation to government attornies if necessary.
He is naive if he things proving that a law is absurd is sufficient to nullify it. Marc
participants (2)
-
L. Detweiler -
Marc Horowitz