🚀 go-pugleaf

    From my dusty archives...

/***** hplabs:net.crypt / ucbvax!phr /  6:46 pm  Jul 12, 1985*/
Subject: RSA cryptographic algorithm patented?

The following letter appeared in the July, 1985 issue of BYTE magazine.
I did not read the article that it refers to, but 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.  The letter:

  As part of his article titled "Implementing Cryptographic Algorithms on
  Microcomputers" (October 1984, page 126), Charles Kluepfel described an
  implementation of the RSA Public Key algorithm and the BASIC code required.
  Unfortunately, he did not reference that this RSA Public Key Cryptosystem
  was patented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1983
  (U.S. Patent 4,405,829).  The worldwide exclusive license to this patent
  was then purchased from MIT by RSA Security Inc., a company founded by
  the inventors of the RSA algorithm to develop this technology.
  
  Because the RSA algorithm has been published in academic journals, most
  people assume that it is in the public domain, similar to the DES
  algorithm.  Unfortunately, some people have developed software and
  other products based on the RSA algorithm without researching this
  point.  Nevertheless, the patent exists and, in the opinion of our
  corporate attorneys, will be easily defended.  As RSA Security Inc.
  paid a great deal of money for the exclusive patent rights, we plan
  to actively police the commercial use of the RSA algorithm.
  
  The purpose of this letter is not to criticize either Mr. Kluepfel or
  BYTE for his article.  Rather, the purpose is to make you aware of our
  patent position and ask for your help in educating your readership as
  to its existence.  Based on Mr. Kluepfel's article, more people are
  going to start expending money and effort developing RSA-based software
  for commercial purposes.  Regrettably, their effort will be wasted
  unless they obtain a sublicense from us.  Therefore, we suggest you
  publish a reference to our patent in a future issue of BYTE to protect
  your readers from this lack of knowledge.
  
		Ralph Bennett
		President
		RSA Security Inc.
		Sunnyvale, CA  94087
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