RSA opens its encryption patent for all to see

In a surprise announcement, security vendor RSA yesterday released the patent for its public key encryption algorithm - the de facto security standard for the web.

RSA's patent had been due to expire on 20 September, but the company released the algorithm into the public domain two weeks early.

Art Coviello, CEO of RSA Security, said the company wanted to take the opportunity to correct misinformation that had been spread about the patent expiry.

In a statement, Coviello said: "RSA Security's commercialisation of the RSA patent helped create an entire industry of highly secure, interoperable products that are the foundation of the worldwide online economy.

"Releasing the algorithm into the public domain now is a symbolic next step in the evolution of this market."

silicon.com will have more on this later.