Re: [IETF-PKIX] Re patent 5699431 & PKIX

[Hal Lockhart <hal@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 06:28 PM 1/15/98 -0500, Sharon Boeyen wrote:
>U.S. patent 5699431 is on the topic of crl distribution points and as
>such is related to PKIX.
>
>CRL distribution points are an optional item in the PKIX certificate and
>crl profiles and I don't believe there is, or should be, anything on
>distribution points which is mandated by any part of the PKIX
>specifications.

I think it is important for some competent, disinterested party to look
into this as soon as possible.  I have not seen the patent, but I know that
initial patents in a new field are usually worded quite broadly.  The
discussion in December on OCSP convinced me that, at least in the abstract,
OCSP and traditional CRLs may be viewed as endpoints on a spectrum of
configuration options for CRL distribution points.

I hope no one will interpret this comment to mean that I suspect bad faith
on the part of Entrust, quite the opposite.

Hal

=================================================================
Harold W. Lockhart Jr.            Platinum Solutions Inc.
Chief Technical Architect         8 New England Executive Park
Email: hal@platsol.com            Burlington, MA 01803 USA
Voice: (781)273-6406              Fax: (781)229-2969
=================================================================