encrypted file integration into KDE

[Ingo Klöcker]

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On Saturday 27 April 2002 22:37, Martin Konold wrote:
> On Saturday 27 April 2002 08:42 pm, Ingo Klöcker wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> > > A candidate: libmcrypt
> > >
> > > http://mcrypt.hellug.gr/
> >
> > How on earth can a lgpl licenced library implement a patented
> > algorithm (IDEA) which must not be used in a commercial environment
> > without
>
> Well, easily if the implementation is done in a country where stupid
> sw patents do not apply!

Isn't Free Software supposed to be free on the whole world? Obviously an 
implementation of IDEA can't be used for commercial purposes in the 
below mentioned countries even if it was developed outside of these 
countries.
Free Software should simply not implement patented algorithm even if 
this causes interoperability problems. Guess why GnuPG doesn't include 
the IDEA algorithm.

This is an excerpt of the README.SuSE from gpgaddon.rpm:

 IDEA:
 Patented by Ascom Systec Ltd. of CH-5506 Maegenwil. Only freely usable
 for certain non-profit purpose:
 This software product contains the IDEA algorithm as described and
 claimed in US patent 5,214,703, EPO patent 0482154 (covering Austria,
 France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
 and the UK), and Japanese patent application 508119/1991, "Device for
 the conversion of a digital block and use of same" (hereinafter
 referred to as "the algorithm").  Any use of the algorithm for
 commercial purposes is thus subject to a license from Ascom
 Systec Ltd. of CH-5506 Maegenwil (Switzerland), being the patentee and
 sole owner of all rights, including the trademark IDEA.

Regards,
Ingo

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