Kermit Software - Export Permissions

Kermit 95 2.1 includes strong encryption capabilities as part of its security features. Export of cryptographic software is restricted by United States of America Export Administration Regulations. This is a matter of USA law, which governs the New York based Kermit Project.

The United States Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), via CCATS # G025631 dated 07/16/2002, has granted to Kermit 95:

Export Control Classification Number (ECCN): 5D002 (Telecommunications and Information Security - Software), Paragraph C.1.
Export License Exception ENC (Encryption Commodities and Software) under Sections 740.17(A) and 740.17(B)(3) of the United States Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

This allows export of the cryptographic version of Kermit 95 to all countries except Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Sudan, and Syria. Of course the non-cryptographic version of Kermit 95 can be exported to any country at all but is available only for electronic purchase and delivery, not in shrinkwrapped form. (If you disagree with the composition of the list of embargoed countries or any other facet of US export law, please direct your comments to the appropriate government or international bodies.)

C-Kermit for Unix and VMS also includes security and strong encryption. When it is distributed in source code form, there are no export restrictions, and the security and encryption modules are included. But by USA law, cryptographic versions of C-Kermit may not be exported in binary form, at least not without us going through a months-long approval process for each binary, which is not practical. Thus all prebuilt C-Kermit binaries distributed by the Kermit Project are non-cryptographic versions.

[ Kermit 95 ] [ Kermit Home ]

Kermit 95 Export Permissions / Columbia University / [email protected] / 16 July 2002