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From: tim@callan.UUCP (Tim Smith)
Newsgroups: net.crypt,net.legal
Subject: Re: RSA cryptographic algorithm patented?
Message-ID: <1082@callan.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Aug-85 18:23:01 EDT
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Posted: Mon Aug 26 18:23:01 1985
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> I'm no lawyer, but from my reading of general articles on patent law,
> an algorithm is one of the things that specifically CAN'T be patented.

I just recently found a book at the Caltech bookstore called "Software Law,
a Primer", and bought it.  It was quite fascinating.

One of the sample cases given was some sort of control system for a chemical
plant that used a specific equation to control something or other.  This was
patentable.  The patent does not cover all uses of that equation - just the
use of it control that specific part of a chemical plant doing what that
specific chemical plant was doing ( I don't have the book with me, so I am
being a bit vague here.  Sorry ).

Although an algorithm can't be patented ( I think ), using a specific
algorithm to accomplish a specific task can.  This is probably what
will make the RSA system patentable.

DISCALIMER:  I am not a lawyer, or even a particularly well read non-lawyer
when it comes to this sort of thing. 

-- 
					Tim Smith
				ihnp4!{cithep,wlbr!callan}!tim