Date: Sat, 09 Sep 2000 00:29:07 -0600 From: Wes Peters <wes@softweyr.com> To: "Jeroen C. van Gelderen" <jeroen@vangelderen.org> Cc: Warner Losh <imp@village.org>, hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: FYI: RSA Donated to the public domain Message-ID: <39B9D8B3.4B6F1229@softweyr.com> References: <200009061312.HAA68224@harmony.village.org> <200009061317.HAA68280@harmony.village.org> <39B658C0.CD9A2E37@vangelderen.org>
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"Jeroen C. van Gelderen" wrote:
>
> Warner Losh wrote:
> >
> > In message <200009061312.HAA68224@harmony.village.org> Warner Losh writes:
> > : RSA Security Releases RSA Encryption Algorithm into Public Domain
> >
> > Note that other information at the site says that RSAREF isn't
> > released into the public domain. Its use is still governed by
> > copyright law, so we'll have to use the international version of
> > RSAREF if we want to get RSA into -current.
>
> RSAREF was only neccessary whilst the patent was
> enforced. Now that RSA is released[1] we can use
> the OpenSSL RSA implementation which is better.
>
> [1] The press release talk about RSADSI "waiving its
> rights to enforce the RSA patent for any development
> activities"
>
> This is very cunning as the patent never actually
> covered development. Instead it covers usage and
> sales of products incorporating RSA, both of which
> are not explicitly allowed for in the press release.
> Better be careful, better get written approval!
No, it explicity said they were placing the RSA algorithm "in the public
domain." That has some very specific legal meanings, which boil down
to "you can do whatever you want with it, but you can't sue us over it
because it's not ours anymore, it's everyones."
--
"Where am I, and what am I doing in this handbasket?"
Wes Peters Softweyr LLC
wes@softweyr.com http://softweyr.com/
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