[1294] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Entrust exporting strong crypto from Canada
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Perry E. Metzger)
Thu Jul 31 14:45:48 1997
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 14:39:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Perry E. Metzger" <perry@piermont.com>
To: cryptography@c2.net
Reply-to: perry@piermont.com
[Taken from Edupage]
ENTRUST SKIRTS EXPORT RULES ON ENCRYPTION SOFTWARE
Ottawa-based Entrust Technologies has side-stepped controversial export
regulations, bringing software to individual and educational computer users
that allows them to protect their files and e-mail from prying eyes.
Entrust's software, called "Solo," can be downloaded free of charge from the
company's Web site and can be used by individuals to encrypt any kind of
computer file or message, to compress them, and to authenticate digital
signatures. It is part of a controversial class of software, encryption
technology that is so effective that many law enforcement agencies want it
severely restricted in an effort to prevent criminals from using it as an
impenetrable digital shield. Entrust will export Solo from Canada under a
section of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that covers packaged
or shrink-wrapped software. The company notes the Canadian government has
ruled that Solo falls under that GATT section, and it maintains it complies
with both Canadian and American restrictions on the export of encryption
technology. The report pointed out that because Solo is being exported from
Canada, it does not require approval from the United States. <
http://www.entrust.com/ > (Toronto Globe & Mail 29 July 97)
