Re: CCC Crypto Lock

The fact that this patent was issued indicates to me that the patent office
does not understand computer technology. There is nothing new here that I
was not using for other purposes at least 20 years ago.
Unfortunately, once a patent is issued, it cost a great deal of money to break.

Tim Philp


At 04:10 AM 7/6/96 -0700, you wrote:
>MicroPatent, 4 July 96
> 
> 
>Systems and methods for protecting software from 
>unlicensed copying and use (Assignee -- Convex Computer 
>Corporation) 
> 
> 
>Abstract: Disclosed systems and methods for protecting a 
>software program from unauthorized use and copying 
>through the removal at least one of a plurality of 
>instructions comprising a software program, and 
>encrypting the removed instruction utilizing an 
>encryption algorithm to produce an encrypted instruction, 
>the encryption algorithm responsive to a randomly 
>generated key. 
> 
>Ex Claim Text: A processing system for protecting a 
>software program from unauthorized use, said software 
>program including one or more unencrypted instructions 
>stored in memory associated with said software program, 
>said processing system comprising: a processing unit 
>operable to: remove at least one selected said 
>unencrypted instruction from an executable area in said 
>memory associated with executable portions of said 
>program; encrypt said at least one selected unencrypted 
>instruction removed from said software program utilizing 
>an encryption algorithm to produce an encrypted 
>instruction; store said encrypted instruction within a 
>first non-executable data area in said memory associated 
>with said software program; and insert at least one 
>trappable instruction in place of said encrypted 
>instruction within said executable area in memory 
>allowing said software program to be linked with one or 
>more other programs. 
> 
>Assignee: Convex Computer Corporation 
> 
>Patent Number: 5530752 
> 
>Issue Date: 1996 06 25 
> 
>Inventor(s): Rubin, Robert J. 
> 
>If you would like to purchase a copy of this patent, 
>please call MicroPatent at 800-984-9800.  
> 
>Copyright 1996, MicroPatent 
> 
>

On Sun, 7 Jul 1996, Tim Philp wrote:

> The fact that this patent was issued indicates to me that the patent office
> does not understand computer technology.

Gee. Next you'll be telling us that the US Congress isn't always sensitive
to libertarian issues.

-rich

On Sat, 6 Jul 1996, Rich Graves wrote:

> On Sun, 7 Jul 1996, Tim Philp wrote:
> 
> > The fact that this patent was issued indicates to me that the patent office
> > does not understand computer technology.
> 
> Gee. Next you'll be telling us that the US Congress isn't always sensitive
> to libertarian issues.
> 
> -rich
> 

Don't rush to judge too quickly. Software patents (For the most part) are 
*not* really understood by the patent office. Why do you think Compton's 
slid one by on Multi-media ? Fortunately, there was so much fuss set up 
over that one, the office pulled it for review. 

All it takes is someone "skilled in the art" to backup your claim that 
method "A" is provably workable...

...Paul