Ianal, but I think jurisdictions may have issues with receiving and using/profiting from stolen 'property', regardless of whether that property is an information/intangible asset or a tangible asset.
In practical terms the information is 'published' as in available to a broad range of readers. Available != free to use without consequences in all possible circumstances. As to the rights and wrongs at the centre of this thread - let the discussions proceed! Lyal -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of J.A. Terranson Sent: Saturday, 30 July 2005 11:51 AM To: Jason Coombs Cc: Russell Smoak; [email protected]; [email protected]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Full-disclosure] <Cisco Message> Mike Lynn's controversialCisco Security Presentation On Fri, 29 Jul 2005, Jason Coombs wrote: <cutting to the chase> > Now, if RC4 had never been used to create a product and had been kept > as a trade secret, and that secret had been published, then it would > not have become, automatically, an unencumbered algorithm that could > be used by anyone with impunity. There being no way other than theft > of trade secret for a third party to come to know the algorithm, had a > court order been obtained to halt the spread of the secret the > algorithm itself could very well have been kept as protectable > intellectual property until such time as the company that enjoyed a > commercial advantage through preservation of their RC4 trade secret > had concluded the public distribution of a product that somebody else > could have reverse engineered. The problem here is essentially one of mass distribution. There are now *millions* of copies of these "secrets" in general circulation. Nobody can assert with a straight face that anything about Lynn's presentation is not completely and totally within the public view - and irretrievably so. -- Yours, J.A. Terranson [EMAIL PROTECTED] 0xBD4A95BF "A stock broker is someone who handles your money until its all gone." Diana Hubbard (of Scientology fame) _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/ _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/
