PKP licensing of RSA
Hi all, Just what may be a stupid question concerning licensing of the RSA algorithm from PKP. I have friends who would like to use freeware PGP but are hesitant to do so because of _possible_ patent infringement against PKP. On the other hand, they aren't crazy about paying $100 for the ViaCrypt version. (And that price will increase shortly, I believe. Does anyone know if PKP will directly license RSA for single-user use? (In other words, get the freeware version of PGP and then get a license from PKP to use it "legally"). I would imagine the license would cost less than $100 if available (why do I doubt that ViaCrypt is in this for their health?). Yes, I realize that this would mean there would be a record of licensees. And if the government chose to make "non-Clipper" encryption illegal in the future, they would have a list of people to investigate. A LONG list. Included on which would be all cypherpunks and everyone who bought a copy of ViaCrypt PGP. So what are they going to do about it? I think it is well out of their control. It would be politically unsound to investigate all registered ViaCrypt users. Obviously, this question is for the benefit of those who, for whatever reason, must remain "strictly legal". But who don't care to pay $100 for ViaCrypt's version. People who are willing to use the unlicensed freeware version (not like _I_ ever would ;) ), could continue to do so. Maybe I'm way off-base here. Don't flame me, just correct my thinking. (Though I am wearing my Nomex suit!) Thanks for any intelligent replies, Bruce
On 4 May 1994, Bruce C. Dovala wrote:
I have friends who would like to use freeware PGP but are hesitant to do so because of _possible_ patent infringement against PKP. On the other hand, they aren't crazy about paying $100 for the ViaCrypt version. (And that price will increase shortly, I believe.
As long as the use is for experimental, research, or educational purposes, I don't think Jim Bidzos is going to care much - those are permitted uses, under US patent law.
Does anyone know if PKP will directly license RSA for single-user use? (In other words, get the freeware version of PGP and then get a license from PKP to use it "legally"). I would imagine the license would cost less than $100 if available (why do I doubt that ViaCrypt is in this for their health?).
Why go to the trouble? ftp to rsa.com - if you are a US citizen, get the README from /rsaref. It details, quite simply, how to get rsaref and the ripem stuff, and the licensing docs are in there.
Obviously, this question is for the benefit of those who, for whatever reason, must remain "strictly legal". But who don't care to pay $100 for ViaCrypt's version. People who are willing to use the unlicensed freeware version (not like _I_ ever would ;) ), could continue to do so.
Like I said, it's a non-issue, unless you plan on using it for commercial use. Here's the text of the licensing stuff that I found in the latest version of ripem:
participants (3)
-
Bruce C. Dovala -
Ed Carp -
hughes＠ah.com