🚀 go-pugleaf

In <bontchev.726254411@fbihh> bontchev@fbihh.informatik.uni-hamburg.de (Vesselin Bontchev) writes:

>ct@dde.dk (Claus Tondering) writes:

>> As far as I know, US laws forbid the export of cryptographic
>> software. However, WordPerfect contains a (very simple and insecure)
>> cryptographic feature. And WordPerfect is exported from the US with
>> this feature. Why is this legal? Is it because the code is so
>> easily broken? Is this the very reason for making the code so
>> incredibly simple?

>If I understand it correctly, the US -laws- do NOT forbid anything
>like that. Instead, there are some export -regulations- (which are not
>laws) that state that it is forbidden to export/import crypto software
>without a license. Can anybody who has access to the full text of ITAR
>tell us whether it contains a definition for "crypto software"? My
>guess is that it doesn't and the Department of State keeps the right
>to decide what is crypto software and what isn't. They probably try to
>be reasonable and allow the export of weak crypto systems without a
>license by saying that they are not strong enough to be considered
>crypto software. Note again that this is just my wild guess - I am not
>familiar with the US legal system. Let's hope that somebody more
>competent than me will provide the necessary explanation.

Two points.

Regulations, in this case, have the force of law unless/until they are
shown to be inconsistent with the authorizing law or otherwise illegal.

Dave, I believe, claimed that the "software" is defined in the preamble to
the regs, (or something like that).  I don't know if "crypto software" is
defined in the regs, in the law, or somewhere else entirely.  (If it's
somewhere else, the regs are probably unconstitutionally vague or do not
cover PGP).
--
Arthur L. Rubin: a_rubin@dsg4.dse.beckman.com (work) Beckman Instruments/Brea
216-5888@mcimail.com 70707.453@compuserve.com arthur@pnet01.cts.com (personal)
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