RSA Security Inc. this week announced it has released its RSA
public key encryption algorithm into the public domain, allowing
anyone to create products that incorporate their own implementation
of the algorithm. The patent has enabled RSA to dominate the US
market for encryption software since 1983 with its technology being
in around 90% of all products sold with encryption.
The patent, which has been licensed widely by security systems,
including those of Netscape and Explorer browsers, would have
expired on 20th September, exactly 17 years after it was first
issued to MIT and licensed exclusively to RSA.
The expiry had been anticipated as a symbolic date by security
executives. Baltimore Technologies Inc. was using the expiration as
a marketing tool for new products.
RSA said the early release will reassure investors that its
follow-up products will secure the company’s future. However, it is
understood that the decision to release it two weeks early was also
pre-empting the bad publicity otherwise expected on 20th
September.
Baltimore Technologies has said that it plans to give away to
software developers tool kits that would have previously infringed
the RSA patent. Companies such as Baltimore have already been able
to sell competing products in Europe and elsewhere because the RSA
patent is not legally recognised outside the US.
