frost@helix.nih.gov (James P. Goltz) (04/26/91)
Does anyone know of source code for an implementation of the RSA public-key encryption algorithm? I've seen a fair implementation for DOS, but source code for it is unavailable. I can dig up some of my old class notes and write one myself if I have to, but I'd *really* rather not. |-) Email please...I'll summarize if anything comes in. Thanks in advance. -- Spoken: James P. Goltz Smart: frost@helix.nih.gov Not smart: nih-csl!helix!frost
riordanmr@clvax1.cl.msu.edu (Mark Riordan) (04/27/91)
In article <1401@nih-csl.nih.gov>, frost@helix.nih.gov (James P. Goltz) says: >Does anyone know of source code for an implementation of the RSA >public-key encryption algorithm? RSA is patented, so it's not clear whether it's legal to distribute RSA source code without RSA's permission, even if you wrote the code. I wrote an RSA implementation, but feel uncomfortable in distributing it. RSA does have an agreement with Digital to distribute RSA code as part of a sort of alpha-test of a product called SPX. For details, FTP to crl.dec.com (192.58.206.2). Look for SPX-FORMS (form to fill out to request RSA source). Mark R. Michigan State Univ. riordanmr@clvax1.cl.msu.edu
ts@cup.portal.com (Tim W Smith) (04/27/91)
[ Disclaimer -- I am *NOT* a lawyer, although I've watched an actor play one on TV :-). Anyone who makes legal decisions based on net postings is a moron. ] The RSA patent shouldn't prevent you from distributing the source code to an RSA implementation. If the code you have is copyrighted, you will need the copyright holder's permission, of course. The RSA patent, however, would prevent you from *running* the code, or from running any implementation of RSA other than one licensed from the holders of the patent. However, I don't think that they can use the patent to stop distribution of the code itself. So if you want to look at it for your own edification (or to get ready to market a competing implementation when their patent expires (1997 or thereabouts, isn't it?)), then there should be no problem. Tim Smith ps: read the disclaimer at the top again.
frost@helix.nih.gov (James P. Goltz) (04/30/91)
Following up on my original query: In article <1401@nih-csl.nih.gov> frost@helix.nih.gov (James P. Goltz) writes: > >Does anyone know of source code for an implementation of the RSA >public-key encryption algorithm? I find that RSA is a patented algorithm and therefore any implementation w/source would involve all that pesky licensing. |-) This note from kurt@RSA.COM (Kurt Stammberger) about the company which holds the patent: >RSA Data Security, Inc. was founded in 1982 by the inventors of the >algorithm -- Rivest, Shamir, and Aldeman. All three, in varying degrees, are >still involved in the company. RSADSI develops and markets products based >on the RSA Algorithm, as well as developing new crypto / hash algorithms and >implementations. We cover the bases, from an end-user signature kit >to custom turnkey network-wide security implementations, to consulting >in the cryptographic sciences field. We like to emphasize that RSADSI isn't >just RSA. Plus, it's a fun place to work. :) I'd like to thank all who responded -- it's nice to have a 10,000+ member consulting team. -- Spoken: James P. Goltz Smart: frost@helix.nih.gov Not smart: nih-csl!helix!frost
cpa@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au (Christopher P Avram) (05/01/91)
In article <1991Apr26.193911.13853@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> riordanmr@clvax1.cl.msu.edu (Mark Riordan) writes: >In article <1401@nih-csl.nih.gov>, frost@helix.nih.gov (James P. Goltz) says: >>Does anyone know of source code for an implementation of the RSA >>public-key encryption algorithm? > >RSA is patented, so it's not clear whether it's legal to distribute >RSA source code without RSA's permission, even if you wrote the code. >I wrote an RSA implementation, but feel uncomfortable in distributing it. > >RSA does have an agreement with Digital to distribute RSA >code as part of a sort of alpha-test of a product called SPX. > >For details, FTP to crl.dec.com (192.58.206.2). >Look for SPX-FORMS (form to fill out to request RSA source). > >Mark R. Michigan State Univ. riordanmr@clvax1.cl.msu.edu It has been published many times. Since its patented, perhaps I shouldn't say were ;-) (but if you were to accidently pick up a Byte of 1984 you may find something related).
hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin) (05/05/91)
In article <1412@nih-csl.nih.gov>, frost@helix.nih.gov (James P. Goltz) writes: > Following up on my original query: > > In article <1401@nih-csl.nih.gov> frost@helix.nih.gov (James P. Goltz) writes: > > > >Does anyone know of source code for an implementation of the RSA > >public-key encryption algorithm? > > I find that RSA is a patented algorithm and therefore any > implementation w/source would involve all that pesky licensing. |-) Source CODE might possibly require licensing, but even this is questionable. The source ALGORITHM, or enough to produce it easily, muct be public, however. The word "patent" means open, and a patent is not supposed to issue unless the publicly revealed patent is adequate for someone "skilled in the art", and with the necessary resources, to be able to produce whatever is patented. Anyone who cannot produce an adequate source code, possibly slow, from the algorithm description does not understand how to compute with large integers. This has been the situation since the first description of the algorithm. -- Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907-1399 Phone: (317)494-6054 hrubin@l.cc.purdue.edu (Internet, bitnet) {purdue,pur-ee}!l.cc!hrubin(UUCP)