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From: ns@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Nick Solntseff)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: software distribution restrictions
Message-ID: <26EE5F17.18801@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca>
Date: 12 Sep 90 16:15:19 GMT
References: <8000079@m.cs.uiuc.edu>
Sender: Nicholas Solntseff
Organization: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 17

The last time I needed to find out what restrictions were in force with
regard to software, I had to call the Office of Munitions Control in the
Pentagon.  The local US Consulate did not know any details.

The restrictions are imposed by the US Government and NATO and are 
generally referred to as COCOM regulations.  (I do not know, off hand, what
COCOM stands for.)

YES, it is illegal under US or NATA member country laws to export restricted
items, where export includes even letting non-US or non-NATO citizens have
access WITHIN THE USA OR NATO countries.  The product referred to above has
to be kept under lock and key whenever a non-US or non-Canadian citizen 
could get their dirty hands on it!

By the way, COCOM restrictions change from time to time.  The last change
I know of was about two months ago and, among other things, allowed export
of 2400-baud modems to the USSR.