Re: new patent app conflicts with pgp

[David Shaw <dshaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, Jan 05, 2002 at 01:53:09PM -0500, John Kane wrote:
> 
> Someone has applied for a US patent on the technique of
> using a symmetric session key on a document, and then using
> multiple public keys to encrypt the session key to multiple
> recipients.  Newton Hammet newton(at)hammet.net brought
> this to our attention.
> 
>   http://appft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.html
>   (search for 20010055396)
> http://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-users/2002-January/011444.html
> http://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-users/2002-January/011445.html
> 
> He cites RSA as prior art, but not RFC1991/RFC2440.

I've not read the patent, but if there really is a prior art conflict
with PGP:

http://www.uspto.gov/web/menu/helpfaq.htm#a50

  #50 How does one file protest on patents that are pending? 

  Protests by a member of the public against pending applications will
  be referred to the examiner having charge of the subject matter
  involved. A protest specifically identifying the application to
  which the protest is directed will be entered in the application file
  if: (1) The protest is submitted prior to the publication of the
  application or the mailing of a notice of allowance under rule
  1.311, whichever occurs first; and (2) The protest is either served
  upon the applicant in accordance with rule 1.248, or filed with the
  Office in duplicate in the event service is not possible.  For more
  detailed information on protesting a patent, you may visit our Web
  site at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/mpep.htm for the
  Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) Chapter 1900.

The specific document referred to is at
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/mpep_e8_1900.pdf

David

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   David Shaw  |  dshaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  WWW http://www.jabberwocky.com/
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