Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!unisoft!hoptoad!gnu
From: gnu@hoptoad.uucp (John Gilmore)
Newsgroups: sci.crypt
Subject: Re: distribution of sensitive software like DES
Message-ID: <4106@hoptoad.uucp>
Date: 22 Feb 88 06:07:50 GMT
References: <8801281211.AA13780@decwrl.dec.com> <2275@geac.UUCP>
Organization: Nebula Consultants in San Francisco
Lines: 27

I'm glad to see that a lawyer has finally looked over the analysis of
PD cryptographic software export controls that I did a while ago.  I
still think we have a free country but will go look up the regulations
they quote, to make sure.  It may be that before we post something, we
have to put it in a magazine or newsletter, or offer it on floppies to
anyone who sends in $5 -- no big deal.  I would prefer to have a court
rule that posting something to 8000 machines, many of which are
public-access, and including it in a software library accessible to
anyone, is making it "freely available to the public".  But for that to
happen, somebody will have to take somebody to court, and so far there
are no volunteers.

The point is that information which is freely available to anyone in
the US can be exported.  If any Tom, Dick, or Harry in the states can
get it, there should be no grounds to hassle somebody over exporting
it.

Realize that the lawyer who came up with this opinion is paid by DEC to
keep DEC out of trouble.  The safest thing to do, in the short term,
is to turn and run from any kind of trouble.  I just think that the long
term trouble caused by only the government having privacy is worth
facing the short term trouble.

I'll have more to say later.
-- 
{pyramid,ptsfa,amdahl,sun,ihnp4}!hoptoad!gnu			  gnu@toad.com
		"Watch me change my world..." -- Liquid Theatre