From: Jeff Weinstein <jsw@netscape.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1995 05:57:26 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: POTP Security
In-Reply-To: <30A78DA4@mailer2>
Message-ID: <30A7B5A1.59C7@netscape.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


Paul Koning 1695 wrote:
> 
> > From: Paul Jackman <jacktech@delphi.com>
> >Newgroups: talk.politics.crypto
> > Subject: Re: Elementrix One-Time Pad
> >..
> > The algorithm will be published when patent protection is assured.
> > It is currently patent pending in several countries.
> 
> I saw that comment earlier.  It's rather a curious statement, given that the
> rule of publication vs. patents is that publication before FILING kills
> your ability to get the patent (in most countries) whereas publication
> after filing but before grant is not an issue at all.  This explains why
> you often see a mad scramble in companies when something
> patentable is about to be announced at a trade show, or explained
> in a white paper... the filing has to be in the mail before that happens.
> But only just before... whether the patent office takes days or years
> to grant the patent doesn't matter.

  I would guess that they are choosing to be cautious so that if their
patent is rejected they can still maintain it as a trade secret.

	--Jeff

-- 
Jeff Weinstein - Electronic Munitions Specialist
Netscape Communication Corporation
jsw@netscape.com - http://home.netscape.com/people/jsw
Any opinions expressed above are mine.