On Sun, 13 Jan 2002, Corinna Vinschen wrote: > On Sun, Jan 13, 2002 at 10:54:13AM -0800, Doug Kaufman wrote: > > When you release the new binary package, will your build exclude the > > patented algorithms, so that it can be used without purchasing a > > license in countries which recognize software patents such as the US? > > Doug > > "purchasing a license"? I fear I don't understand. We have informed > the BXA about offering OpenSSL on our site so what are you asking? > I'm not a US citizen, perhaps that's the reason...
At least two of the algorithms used in openssl are subject to patents in certain countries. See the section titled "patents" in the README file from the openssl-0.9.6c distribution. These include the IDEA and RC5 algorithms. The URL in the README file is not current for the IDEA algorithm. See "http://www.mediacrypt.com/"; for current licensing information. They claim patents in many countries, including Germany. I am unable to find information about licensing of RC5 on the rsa web site. An old paper with licinsing information is available at: "http://www.funet.fi/pub/crypt/cryptography/symmetric/rc5/rc5-info-from-rsa.txt"; A newer statement, but not from RSA, can be found at: "http://www.rubberhose.org/dist/rubberhose-0.8.3/src/PATENTS"; I was trying to suggest in my earlier message that it might be better when building binaries for the Cygwin distribution, to build with the "no-idea no-rc5" options to the configure script so that the binaries could be used in any country without fear of violating patent laws. Or you might consider making available two sets of binaries, one free of patent problems and the other for users in countries that don't recognize this type of patent. Doug __ Doug Kaufman Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________________________ OpenSSL Project http://www.openssl.org Development Mailing List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Automated List Manager [EMAIL PROTECTED]
