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From: minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow)
Newsgroups: sci.crypt,comp.misc
Subject: Re: patents -- (disclosure)
Message-ID: <155@decvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-Sep-87 21:24:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: decvax.155
Posted: Wed Sep 23 21:24:20 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Sep-87 10:30:25 EDT
References: <1372@osiris.UUCP> <441@polyslo.UUCP>
Reply-To: minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow)
Organization: Digital Eq. Corp. - Merrimack NH.
Lines: 25
Keywords: patent
Xref: mnetor sci.crypt:562 comp.misc:1295

Mike Morton noted that RSA was described in a published paper, and wonders
whether it is thus in the public domain.

(I'm not a lawyer, so don't trust this.  My name is, however, on a patent.)

In the United States, you have one year after "disclosure" to file
for a patent.  You must, however, be able to show the actual date
of the invention.  In general, a bound notebook with a dated page
is sufficient.  Having a couple of witnesses sign the page would
be a good idea.  (This isn't needed for the patent, but for the
all-important defense against claims that someone else invented it
first.)

In other countries, you must file for the patent before disclosure.

Disclosure generally means public knowledge of the patentable idea.
You can tell others your idea if they have signed a "non-disclosure
agreement" without comprimising your situation.

Hope this helps ease the confusion.

Martin Minow
decvax!minow

The above does not represent the position of Digital Equipment Corporation.