From: Raul Miller <moth@debian.org>
To: Chloe Hoffman <chloehoffman@hotmail.com>
CC: debian-legal@lists.debian.org
Subject: Re: Irony of RSA Encryption
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 06:07:08 -0400
Raul Miller <moth@debian.org> wrote:
> >Sure -- in the case of U.S. patents, they're only good for 20 years
> >after they're issued. [But remember that they also cover the period
> >between the time they're filed and the time they're issued, and this
> >period can cover a number of years.]
On Sun, Sep 17, 2000 at 04:27:47PM -0400, Chloe Hoffman wrote:
> Just a correction. U.S patent term is now, upon issuance, 20 years from
the
> filing date of the patent. It used to be 17 years from the date of
> grant/issuance.
While that's true, if I remember right it's irrelevant in the context
of RSA. [Wasn't the RSA patent filed around some time around 1976 then
issued in 1980 under the 17 year rule, then automatically extended to
20 years when that law was passed?]
> Also, the patent is only effective from grant - no liability for
> infringement before issuance of the patent while it moves through
> the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Soon, when publication in
> the U.S. goes into effect, there will be a right to "reasonable
> compensation/royalty" (something like that - I don't have the wording
> around) for the period after publication (almost always 18 months from
> the filing date) of the patent application and issuance of the patent.
Hmm...
Since Legi-Slate went out of business, I've not known of an easy way of
finding out the status of new laws. [And, in this case, it looks like
my memory has gotten the better of me.] I don't suppose you know of a
web site that tracks such things?