Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!henry From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) Newsgroups: sci.crypt Subject: Re: encryption with public keys Message-ID: <7451@utzoo.UUCP> Date: Mon, 29-Dec-86 21:34:18 EST Article-I.D.: utzoo.7451 Posted: Mon Dec 29 21:34:18 1986 Date-Received: Mon, 29-Dec-86 21:34:18 EST References: <3072@ihuxf.UUCP>, <1090001@hpl-opus.HP.COM> Organization: U of Toronto Zoology Lines: 20 > [BYTE letter] ... I find it ironic that > after the inventors of RSA fought so hard to prevent the Government from > classifying their work, they now are trying to use the patent system to > suppress its widespread use... Please explain how you get this interpretation from the BYTE letter. The way I read the letter is that the patent owners are trying to use the patent system to prevent people from using their invention without paying them a royalty. This is precisely the purpose of the patent system, to give folks who invent something new and useful a weapon against ripoff artists (however well-intentioned). I'm sure the inventors of RSA would be *delighted* if their work was in widespread use *with royalties being paid*. Other postings suggest that the patent owners may have erected enough complications in licensing to effectively interfere with widespread use even with royalty payment. That's unfortunate, and indeed ironic, but the BYTE letter gives no hint of it. -- Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology {allegra,ihnp4,decvax,pyramid}!utzoo!henry