Governments urged to take action on patenting

According to Fran Rooney, CEO of Baltimore Technologies, the RSA algorithm patent, which prevented rival vendors from using the algorithm in products sold in the US, was released too late. It has already had a negative effect on the deployment of public key infrastructure (PKI) technologies on both sides of the Atlantic.

RSA's public key encryption algorithm provides the basis for most forms of web security and is embedded in all Netscape and Explorer browsers.

Speaking exclusively to silicon.com at Baltimore's Technology Convention in Florida, Rooney compared ownership of the patent to ownership of the universal equation "two plus two makes four".

He said: "We need science in order to develop technology and innovation in business. Governments should advance it instead of shying away from relevant issues because they may only have an effect in the future."

He added: "Standardisation bodies and patenting authorities are also to blame for being too slow. Both need to establish firm guidelines and clear authority to prevent companies from curbing innovation."

Jason Wright, security analyst at research firm Frost and Sullivan, agreed. He said: "Most ecommerce setbacks are not technological but political. When code becomes available it increases competition in the market, which is always healthy. Biometrical developments, for instance, are plagued with issues of ownership as no one seems to be able to agree on standards. This subsequently delays the roll-out."

Sven Hammar, CEO of Celo Communications, a PKI vendor, told silicon.com: "Governments should be encouraging market opportunities by introducing new technologies, such as the smartcard applications used by the Finnish government. This would encourage companies to bring more products to the market, thereby increasing research and development."

Lisa Pretty, executive director of PKI Forum, the independent industry standardisation body, told silicon.com: "The PKI Forum is pushing for guidelines to prevent anti-competitive behaviour. The [US] government should take a vendor-independent stance and encourage the positive effects of competition and innovation."