I got this from infobeat.com today.  While it's OT as far as PICs go, it
certainly has import here on the list with as international a flavor as we are.

Andy



*** Court strikes U.S. encryption rules

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Government limits on the export of computer
encryption codes, which scramble data to prevent eavesdropping, are a
violation of freedom of expression, a federal appeals court ruled
Thursday. The ruling is a blow to the Clinton administration, which
limits exports of the most powerful encryption technology because it
fears law enforcement agencies won't be able to read the messages of
criminals or terrorists. But the high-tech industry wants relaxed
restrictions so it can take full advantage of the booming market for
encryption programs as Internet commerce increases. The 9th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals, upholding a lower-court ruling, said
encryption codes contain expressions of ideas and cannot be
suppressed indefinitely by government officials. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559451428-8e5
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