"Ben Finney" <bignose+hates-spam@benfinney.id.au> wrote in message [🔎] 876439ojhw.fsf@benfinney.id.au">news:[🔎] 876439ojhw.fsf@benfinney.id.au...
Dererk <dererk@madap.com.ar> writes:
The developer of a software I'm about to package, faced the problem of exporting cryptography libraries outside the US, he finally turned out his view and he will make his main repository available outside the US, punctually in the U.K.
On reading the whole message, I'd like to summarise for those who (like me) believe they already know the answer: Daniel Drake (a UK citizen currently living in the USA) wants to release, under the GNU LGPL, software that involves fingerprint recognition algorithms. This, according to Daniel's research into the laws, falls foul of US munitions export regulation under a category separate from cryptographic algorithms — and does *not* have an exception allowing export of free software. I don't have an answer, but I hope for a successful conclusion that allows free release of this software.
Yeah, this does not look good. He can legally export to England (no licence needed, but paperwork might need to be filed). However, he would need a licence to export to many countries, Specifically all countries with checks in column CC1 or AT1 need a licence to export. (The relevent chart is at http://www.gpo.gov/bis/ear/pdf/738spir.pdf). Further, exporting to england with the intention of re-exporting from there may be considered a crime in the US. (Which is absurd, but the whole munitions control system is mostly absurd anyway).
There looks to be no relevent blanket exceptions to licence requirements for that catagory. Yuck.
IANAL IANADD.