At 7:02 PM 9/21/95, Michael Shields wrote:

...

There is nothing in the ITAR that refers to ``machine-readable'' so there is no need to interpret that term.

The issue is that it has been formally used as the criterion that distinguishes "technical data" from "defense articles". See Phil Karn's CJ requests on the _Applied Crypography_ book and floppy.

Hear, hear! Michael is correct in pointing out that the "machine-readable" part has indeed been a criterion...if the ITARs in general are unlikely to withstand scrutiny, then trying to get books banned would really cause problems. Also, one of the criteria I recollect is that "systems" were barred from export, not just algorithms. Algorithms are very widely discussed, even described in detail in patents. "Cryptographic systems," embodied in systems, circuits, and specific programs, are not the same as what gets published in textbooks. (BTW, I'm glad I can now read the posts of Michael Shields. His MIME PGP was admirable, in intent, but many of us (from comments here and that were sent to me) just can't handle whatever MIME configuration he was previously using.) --Tim May Notice: Don't expect me to reply to trivial questions and complaints. ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^756839 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders are just speed bumps on the information superhighway."