From: John Young <jya@pipeline.com>
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Message Hash: fd827d7adddbeae9a0baab3369d29f5dc7fc8c7c836fb8005e7858689265567d
Message ID: <199511301940.OAA25768@pipe9.nyc.pipeline.com>
Reply To: N/A
UTC Datetime: 1995-11-30 20:20:59 UTC
Raw Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 04:20:59 +0800
From: John Young <jya@pipeline.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 04:20:59 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Netscape, Corporations, and GAK Support
Message-ID: <199511301940.OAA25768@pipe9.nyc.pipeline.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Picking up on Tim's and Atilla's comments on Netscape, GAK,
a WTO czar and government regulation of security on the
Net:
Jim Clark's speech was probably a trial balloon, to see
what the reaction would be. Remember that the NIST
conference on KE is December 5.
It would make sense for the corporations to welcome
application of police power to handle threats to public
order, in cyberworld like the other. That way they reduce
culpability for failures of their private security systems,
as they do on private real estate property.
Key escrow requires someplace for the buck to stop beyond
several private pitstops, and that is usually Uncle Sugar
when no other party has the resources to withstand
sustained, substantial, culture-wide risk -- as, say, in
the financial realm. Internationally, the same need exists.
Probably the corporations would like to work in concert
with governments on this, so no single firm, or nation,
gets stigmatized, or wounded and prey to vultures -- as
Netscape was with the brute hack, and as Microsoft and
others have been with other attacks on their lightly
guarded property, or as the US might be if it does not work
out international agreements.
Moreover, it has been noted here that government contracts
are crucial for a new company -- for testing, for
credibility, for prestige. All the major players already
have such vital contracts -- indeed most would not have
thrived without them -- so why would Netscape, and its
investors, not want them too?
It's possible that Netscape was selected to sound off on KE
to see if it could play with the Big Boys -- take the heat,
pass initiation, qualify for the Bohemian Grove bear hugs
of assured stability, growth and profits.
Could be, though, that after getting stable R/E for his
backers, Jim will be confident enough to join Pixar in that
rhumba risk of mercurial, evanescent mass-marketers.
That's not to be believed now at 7,000 times earnings.
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