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From: ken@gvax.cs.cornell.edu (Ken Birman)
Newsgroups: comp.os.mach
Subject: DOC export licenses
Message-ID: <43447@cornell.UUCP>
Date: 17 Jul 90 15:44:08 GMT
Sender: nobody@cornell.UUCP
Reply-To: ken@cs.cornell.edu (Ken Birman)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY
Lines: 33

Well, I don't know if ISIS and Mach are in the same category, but
DOC recently relaxed its rules for export of systems like ISIS.  On
the phone, I was told that ISIS could now be exported without any
restrictions at all.  I am waiting to see this on paper, but it
seems likely that the status of Mach will turn out to have changed
(for the better) too.  Note that Mach and ISIS are funded by the
same program director (Brian Boesch at DARPA/ISTO).  In fact, one
would expect ISIS to be the more restricted technology of the two,
since "fault tolerance" has a military ring to it...

It is not clear to me that DOC would need to "discuss this with DARPA"
unless DARPA feels that the technology should be classified or something.
Certainly, there has never been anything in an ISIS funding contract
compelling us to seek permission before exporting the system, and
in fact DARPA has been one of the strongest forces in pushing for
technology transition for both ISIS and Mach.  Of course, the Mach
contract could be worded differently, or DARPA/ISTO may have specifically
asked Rick to talk closely with them on this issue.  They have not
done so with me, although we certainly keep Brian Boesch informed.
Note that these days, DARPA doesn't even hold copyright on software
like Mach or ISIS, or insist that the systems be public domain.

Inquiries on export classifications are handled by the "ECCN
classifications" office within the Department of Commerce:
OTPA (ECCN Classifications), Po. Box 273, USDC, Washington DC. 20044.
You need to send a cover letter describing your product or system,
indicating especially if it is "freely available" (even with a fee;
this means "on an equal basis for all who request it") in the United
States, and include documentation giving the technical specifications
of the system, like a user's manual.  You can also talk to these people
in person, as I did, but its better to have a response on paper.

-- Ken Birman