Ascom Tech License for IDEA

The following is a statement from David Barnhart, PGP Product Manager 
from ViaCrypt, regarding Ascom Tech's position on licensing IDEA:

"In the US, ViaCrypt pays the royalties to Ascom for every copy of 
ViaCrypt PGP shipped.  Users of ViaCrypt PGP have nothing to worry 
about.  Personal users of MIT PGP in the US also have nothing to worry 
about because Ascom's published position deals with 'commercial use'. The 
only people who need to do anything are people overseas using PGP 2.6i or 
2.6ui in their businesses.  They need to license IDEA from Ascom."

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|So, I went walking through the street.   |Mark Aldrich                 | 
|I saw you strung up in a tree.           |GRCI INFOSEC Engineering     | 
|A woman knelt there, said to me,         |maldrich@grci.com            | 
|Hold your tongue, man, hold your tongue. |MAldrich@dockmaster.ncsc.mil | 
|_______________________________________________________________________| 
|The author is PGP Empowered.  Public key at:  finger maldrich@grci.com |
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Mark Aldrich <maldrich@grctechs.va.grci.com> wrote:
  "In the US, ViaCrypt pays the royalties to Ascom for every copy of 
  ViaCrypt PGP shipped.  Users of ViaCrypt PGP have nothing to worry 
  about.  Personal users of MIT PGP in the US also have nothing to worry 
  about because Ascom's published position deals with 'commercial use'. The 
  only people who need to do anything are people overseas using PGP 2.6i or 
  2.6ui in their businesses.  They need to license IDEA from Ascom."

As another data point, I (sitting in Australia)
attempted to buy a licence through the Web page
and encrypted emailed credit card, and in return
received a phone call from Zurich. I was informed
that IDEA was not patented in Australia, and my
attempt to pay was appreciated but declined.

Europe generally has patent coverage I believe.

Greg.

Greg Rose               INTERNET: greg_rose@sydney.sterling.com  
Sterling Software       VOICE:  +61-2-9975 4777    FAX:  +61-2-9975 2921
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