Re: DES module in kernel?

H. Peter Anvin (hpa@transmeta.com)
Tue, 16 Mar 1999 08:51:40 -0800 (PST)


> > On Mon, 15 Mar 1999, G. Allen Morris III wrote:
> >
> > > What are the issues (legal?) of putting DES in the linux kernel?
> >
> > I'm not a lawyer but I think that officially it's illegal to export.
> > We'll have international kernels soon that include various enctyption
> > modules.
>
> Whoever is "in charge" of Linux will need to seek legal counsel
> versed in these issues. The U.S. has relaxed export control laws,
> and so export of 56 bit DES is possible (I've done it), and legal,
> but only with an appropriate export control license.
>
> I can provide the name of a competent attorney, if anyone is interested.
> It is possible to get export control licenses without legal assistance,
> but it's no doubt easier to have a point person who works a few minutes
> away from the relevant gov't agencies in the D.C. area.

The problem is that there *is* no such "in charge" person, and such
the regulations are highly skewed in favour of companies. These
regulations are deadly for Open Source projects.

-hpa

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