On Mon, May 11, 1998 at 04:04:41PM -0600, Bear Giles wrote:
> > Hmm... I think it needs to be determined how (or if) Debian should handle
> > export restricted packages.
> >
I thought the current policy was to let someone else export it (lets face
it...if it is available publicly...someone has exported it already (and
if they havn't then they really should IMHO)
Then once it has been exported and is avialble...have someone
outside the US maintain it,....that way everyone can use it
(as import i snot illegal..even if it was previously exported)
> > I personally feel that we should take the {Net,Free}BSD approach, which is
> > to put export restricted files in a separate directory, and display a
> > disclaimer to the effect that "files in this directory may be export
> > restricted by US regulations, it is your responsibility not to export these
> > files. Debian and the operator of this site cannot be held responsible for
> > potential export of these files" upon login, and also when entering the
> > directory.
That sounds nice but...too "open" (ie open to being a target)
>
> This is a murky area where the government (correction: some parts
> of the government) are clearly unwilling to play fair. The classic
> example is the professor who was told to take down the online notes
> to his cryptology class because of the ITAR regulations. The paper
> notes, it must be noted, could be legally mailed to anywhere in the
> world that the US can send *any* mail. The professor sued, was
> apparently about to win his case, and the government suddenly transfered
> responibility for cryptographic ITAR enforcement to a different
> agency. Sor-ry, but you must restart your suit from ground zero
> professor!
>
> The harassment of Phil Zimmermann is another cautionary tale.
> An investigation was undoubtly justified, under the regulations,
> but the hounding he suffered was ridiculous (IMHO).
This kind of stuff really needs to stop...
I think until the laws change all that can really be done is keep all
of the work on these packages outside the US and on non-US
and most importantly to suport efforts working to change these moronic
laws
-Steve
--
** Stephen Carpenter ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** sjc@delphi.com **
"We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and
to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful
and his children smart."
-- H. L. Mencken (1880-1956)
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