Re: RSA Patent expiry

On 1/24/00, Karsten M. Self <kmself[_at_]ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
> The key RSA patent on public key encryption is due to expire Sept. 20,
> 2000, according to news reports ().
>
> I'm curious as to what other blocking or otherwise applicable patents
> might apply to the use of PKI, or use of PKI in specific areas such
> as communications, computer information exchange, e-commerce, etc.
> The IBM Patent Server (http://www.patents.ibm.com/) lists 266 patents
> matching the Boolean terms "public & key & encryption". Does anyone
> familiar with the field know specific patents which have been asserted
> in the area.

Karsten -- completely off the top of my head -- and without checking the veracity, how about searching for patents filed by some major players in PKI and some in the wireless field?

Note that RSA itself purports not to be concerned about this as the patent is only valid in the US.

and a interview by Infoworld with RSA's CEO at

   <http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/00/01/17/000117hnhotcoviello.xml?sponsor=SECURITY>

Search terms might include:

Certicom - implementation of Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Diversinet

RSA -- MD 3, MD 4 -- didn't someone post what is purported to be source of one of RSA's codes on sci.crypt? John Levine might know as he posts on this subject often.

Verisign

Entrust

I seem to recall you have some basic knowledge of the area. If you don't check out

   <http://www.faqs.org/faqs/cryptography-faq/>    <http://www.interhack.net/people/cmcurtin/snake-oil-faq.html>

a basic primer at

   <http://www.ssh.fi/tech/crypto/intro.html>    <http://www.ssh.fi/tech/crypto/algorithms.html#elliptic>

and finally, Bruce Schneier's "Applied Cryptography" 2d ed. Note that Bruce Schneier is also the developer of an algorithm called Blowfish which is the basis of another implementation of encryption currently being commercialized by a company with which he is involved., Counterpane. I can't recall if there's a patent involved but remember some discussion of Blowfish either on this list or on Net-lawyers.

As I typed this out -- I pulled out a Counterpane reference to Blowfish which says it is unpatented.

   <http://www.counterpane.com/blowfish.html>

I'm reading on this area out of a great deal of personal interest and the math is a little much to wade through -- if anyone can point me to a list where encryption and technical aspects thereof are covered -- I'd much appreciate the reference. I especially wanted to see a review of the various forms of encryption implementation techniques. Something like a Head to Head review ala Infoworld.

Thanks

Lee T. Lau <lau[_at_]wedge.com>                              (604) 730-3402 (Phone)  
David Wedge Computer Law          http://www.wedge.com/ (604) 739-2123 (Fax)