Legal Information about the ZOC-SSH module

Due to legal issues and patent restrictions in regard to the encryption used in ZOC's secure shell (SSH) device, please read the following carefully before you decide, if you want to download the module (or not). The secure shell protocol is used to connect to hosts in a way that is safe against spoofing and tempering with the connection from third parties. To ensure this level of security several strong encryption methods are used which are subject to patents and legal regulations in several countries:

 

 

Legality of using encryption

In some countries (among them France and some countries in the Far East) the use or possesion of encryption technology is illegal. If you reside in such a country, this means that downloading and using ZOC's SSH feature is illegal.

 

Patents

In the U.S. and some other countries it is possible to patent an algorithm. The SSH protocol uses an algorighm (method) called RSA to exchange encryption keys over an unsecure network in a secure way. The RSA algorithm was patented in the U.S. by a company called RSA Data Security. RSA Data Security required all users of RSA algorithms to obtain a license for RSAGEN, which is their implementation of the RSA algorithm. However, to the best of our knowledge the patent expired in year 2000, so we believe that this is a non issue by now. In any case, because algorighms can not be patented in Germany and most of Europe the use of RSA and hence SSH inside Germany and in other countries of the European Community is legal anyway.

 

Export Restrictions

The U.S. government considers strong encryption a military technology and prohibits export of such. An export license can be obtained for less powerful encryption methods but the methods used in SSH are definitely covered by U.S. export laws. This means that you are legally allowed to import such technology into the U.S. But, once it is inside the U.S. it is illegal to export it from the U.S. to other countries, which includes putting it on an internationally accessible ftp server, sending it by mail or email or any other means of transportation. More information about this topic can be found on RSA Data Security's web pages. Note: The software download further down on this page refers to a server located in Germany.

 

Summary

Here is what the above means for using ZOC's SSH in the following parts of the world (please check the Disclaimer at the bottom of this page): Germany: Use of the RSA algorithm not covered by patents. Use of encryption legal. No import/export limitations. Commercial use of the IDEA algorithm requires an end user license. France: Use of encryption illegal. Import probably illegal. Use of the RSA algorithm not covered by patents. U.S.: Use of encryption legal. Import legal. Use of the RSA algorithm covered by RSA Data System patent and hence, according to RSA Data System, illegal. Commercial use of the IDEA algorithm requires an end user license.

 

 

Proceed to Download

Please read carefully: I have read the above and I understand that the legal situation about downloading and using this software varies from country to country. I understand that -- depending on the country where I live -- it is probably not legal to download or use this software. It is my own responsibility to check if download or use of this software is legal for me and it is my own decision to do so (or not). Yes, I want to download SSH for ZOC No, I do not want to download SSH for ZOC

 

 

Disclaimer: The information on this page has been obtained by monitoring the discussion about SSH and encryption on the internet and can in no way be considered legally binding. If you require a legally binding statement regarding the legality of downloading or using this software, please contact an attorney in your country. If you are interested in the aforementioned discussion, please check out www.dejanews.com and search for keywords like "ssh legal", "ssh patent", "RSA patent", etc.

 
 
 

 

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