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From: d89-bfr@sm.luth.se (d89-bfr)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: PKZIP version 1.10 and data encryption
Message-ID: <390@sigma3.sm.luth.se>
Date: 29 Mar 90 08:53:51 GMT
References: <KPETERSEN.12576936709.BABYL@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> <3726.261001b4@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> <1990Mar28.144418.832@ccu.umanitoba.ca>
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In article <1990Mar28.144418.832@ccu.umanitoba.ca> umcarls9@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Charles Carlson) writes:
<In article <3726.261001b4@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> tt3x@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes:
<>	I think it is just plain stupid that there is even a law prohibiting
<>products with data encryption algorithms to be exported out of the US.

<>
<>Bobby Li

Indeed, aren't you right? Possibly the most stupid law I've heard of.
At least it's on my top ten list.

<I agree!  I was just about to post an article on it when I saw yours.  
<I don't understand it either.  If some foreign power wanted it, all they would
<have to do is walk into any one of 1000's of computer stores across the
<U.S. and Canada and pick up a copy of PC Tools or what have you.

Or, as now is the case. Try some ftp:ing. The programs are available
on many ftp sites and also from various BBS:s

< 
<I do understand laws prohibiting the export of computer equipment, but hardware
<is a bit different for one big reason, it can't be copied! <well, you know
<what I mean!> All you need is _ONE_ copy of something that has data
<encryption, and you suddenly have as many copies as you need.
<Each piece of hardware desired has to be exported...although much harder
<than software<which can even be sent via modem if need be>, hardware
<probably isn't that big of a deal for them either.

Hmm. You have a point, but people outside the U.S. and Canada are
inventive too. As well as people can buy the program, they can invent
an algorithm of their own. That's true for hardware too.

By the way. Why was there no fuzz about PKZIP 1.02? It has an
encryption facility as well. At least my copy has. Note that I'm NOT
American and I'm not living there either. Did I break some law? I
highly doubt it. I even got my copy from a European BBS.

<
<Maybe someone in the know can shed some light on this seemingly silly law??
< 
<Charles

Unfortunately not.
   _
/Bjorn.