Status report

[Michael Deindl]

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>>>>> "WK" == Werner Koch <wk at isil.d.shuttle.de> writes:

Hi!

WK> The current problem that I have, is that the FSF doesn't like
WK> dynamic linking (for --load-extension), because RMS thinks
WK> everyone is going to violate the GPL by linking patented
WK> algorithms to gnupg.
[....]

I understand his concern, but I think an easy way to do extensions is
a pretty cool feature.

Additionally, GPG might have to be able to cooperate with older
PGP-versions for quite some time.  IMO this is even crucial for GPG
becoming widely used.


If it doesn't provide an easy way to link in RSA and IDEA on demand,
there might be modified versions very soon, which would no longer be
freely distributable in some parts of the world.
This would be less fortunate than the remote possibility of people
unintentionally/unknowingly violating RSA and IDEA patents.

WK> Hmmm. do I have to invent some client/server model for extensions
WK> to allow RSA?

Sounds complicated.  And would it really solve the ``problem''?

Distributing an ``RSA-server'' doesn't sound more difficult than
distributing a dynamic-link module.


Bye,
Michael

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