next up previous
Next: 3.3 Key Management Up: 3.2 RSA Previous: 3.2.19 Is RSA patented?

3.2.20 Can RSA be exported from the U.S.?

Export of RSA falls under the same U.S. laws as all other cryptographic products. See Question 3.1.6 for details.

RSA used for authentication is more easily exported than when used for privacy. In the former case, export is allowed regardless of key (modulus) size, although the exporter must demonstrate that the product cannot be easily converted to use for encryption. In the case of RSA used for privacy (encryption), the U.S. government generally does not allow export if the key size exceeds 512 bits. Export policy is currently a subject of debate, and the export status of RSA may well change in the next year or two.

Regardless of U.S. export policy, RSA is available abroad in non-U.S. products.



Denis Arnaud
12/19/1997