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From: plw@panda.UUCP (Pete Williamson)
Newsgroups: net.crypt
Subject: Opinion on RSA Patent
Message-ID: <921@panda.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Sep-85 11:22:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: panda.921
Posted: Thu Sep 19 11:22:57 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Sep-85 01:11:15 EDT
Reply-To: plw@genrad.UUCP (Pete Williamson)
Distribution: na
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 20


   In my opinion, the RSA Method is a highly creative application of
fundamental number theory properties that have been around since the
1750s. Messrs. Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman, spurred on by the Diffie
and Hellman paper, have invented an elegant public key system.

   The patent is real. It is solid. It will likely hold up in court.
I believe that the inventors DESERVE all the financial benefits that they
can legally obtain (they hold the exclusive license). The technique is
so powerful that it will undoubtably change the data security business
forever, especially as computing power continues to advance in the
next decade.

   The fact that the mathematics is straightforward in no way detracts
from their invention. In my opinion, it enhances it.


-- 
						Pete Williamson
"By hook or by crook, we will !!" ... #2