Netscape gets patent on SSL?

[Brian Behlendorf <br...@hyperreal.org>]

Any comments?

>------- start of forwarded message (RFC 934 encapsulation) -------
>From: glen@substance.abuse.blackdown.org
>To: 0xdeadbeef@substance.abuse.blackdown.org
>Cc: bostic@bsdi.com
>Subject: Netscape and the SSL Patent
>Sender: glen@shell.ncm.com
>
>Forwarded-by: Brian Dhatt <br...@dhatt.com>
>Forwarded-by: "Craig R.P. Heath" <cr...@sco.COM>
>
>I don't know how many people are aware of this, but Netscape have
>just beatent on SSL - US Patent number 5,657,390.
>
>The patent is entitled "Secure socket layer application program
>apparatus and method", and the abstract is as follows (from the
>patents.uspto.gov web site):
>
>"A computer program product comprising: a computer useable medium
>having computer readable program code means embodied therein for
>encrypting and decrypting information transferred over a network
>between a client application program running in a client computer
>and a server application program running in a server computer,
>the computer readable program code means in the computer program
>product comprising: computer readable program code means for
>providing a socket application program interface to an application
>layer program; computer readable program code means for providing
>encrypted information to transport protocol layer services; computer
>readable program code means for encrypting information received from
>an application layer program; and computer readable program code
>means for decrypting information received from transport protocol
>layer services."
>
>Does anyone have a clue as to what they may be planning to do with it?
>
>		- Craig Heath, SCO.
>
>------- end -------

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"Why not?" - TL           brian@organic.com - hyperreal.org - apache.org

Re: Netscape gets patent on SSL?

[Ben Laurie <be...@algroup.co.uk>]

Brian Behlendorf wrote:
> 
> Any comments?

Netscape tried to patent preforking, too, remember?

If there isn't prior art, I'll be very surprised.

Of course, as usual, this patent will only apply in the US, if it stands
up.

Cheers,

Ben.

-- 
Ben Laurie            |Phone: +44 (181) 994 6435|Apache Group member
Freelance Consultant  |Fax:   +44 (181) 994 6472|http://www.apache.org
and Technical Director|Email: ben@algroup.co.uk |Apache-SSL author
A.L. Digital Ltd,     |http://www.algroup.co.uk/Apache-SSL
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