🚀 go-pugleaf

In <Bx1o2L.AMz@access.digex.com> jthomas@access.digex.com (Joe Thomas) writes:

>   In all the posts I've read about PKP's patent claims over RSA public
>key encryption, I have never seen anyone mention when the patent is due 
>to expire.  I was under the impression that U.S. patent protection is only
>good for 17 years (I believe that's true for drugs, anyway).  
In the US, seventeen years from the date of issuance of the patent.
In other countries, varying periods and some of them run from the
date of application rather than issuance.

I recall one of the first RSA papers being maybe in 1977 or 1978?
But a patent applied for then might not issue until a couple of years
later -- 1980 or later?  Such a patent would expire maybe in 1997?

>RSA papers
>go back to the mid 70s.  Is RSA going to be in the public domain soon?
>   I've seen posts to this group quoting from PKP's patent.  How about if
>somebody checks when it was filed?

If somebody will post the patent number I would be willing to check
and see when it expires.


Carl Oppedahl AA2KW  (intellectual property lawyer)
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