Re: RSA and libcrypt for COMMERCIAL use

[Bob Beck <beck@bofh.ucs.ualberta.ca>]

> [ RSA developed with federal money, then patented, but it's ok
>   because the government can use it ]

    Always has fascinated my how the US taxpayer puts up with that 
sort of thing. 

>(only 11 months and 1 day until the RSA patent expires, oh my!).

    Unless RSA Inc. renews it. You can renew patents in the US.
You're a fool if you believe that both RSA Inc. wouldn't have the
financial interest in doing it, and that the nice folks in the NSA
wouldn't be more than willing to help grease the skids for it. This
given that the patent is a more effective way of preventing widespread
deployment of strong crypto than the ITAR Regs are.

    -Bob