[tor-talk] Tor... patented?

[Paul Syverson]

On Tue, Jun 21, 2016 at 01:37:05AM -0400, grarpamp wrote:
> Voce Syverson:
> > I invented onion
> > routing (with David and Michael) and designed Tor (with Roger and
> > Nick).
> > ...
> > I believe we invented the design of a network that utilizes
> > layers of public-key crypto to lay a cryptographic circuit over which
> > data can be passed bidirectionally. We did get a patent on that, for
> > whatever that's worth.
> 
> Can someone publish...
> 
> 1) a list of patent numbers present in Tor as implemented
> in git master, as well as in any prior release of Tor proper,
> and any of its coded and released progenitors.
> 
> 2) a separate list of patent numbers for any related research
> by the aforementioned principals, their contemporaries and
> research / development partners, employers, employees,
> the NRL, USGOV, etc as it may relate to onion routing, Tor,
> or other work within the overall historical lineage leading to
> Tor as it is known today.
> 
> Include with such lists
> 1) any existing licensing terms
> 2) a list of any licensees
> -- 

To the best of my knowledge, Tor is not encumbered by any patents.
The onion routing patent has expired, and in any case was never
applicable to Tor because some of the design features of Tor took it
outside of the scope of the onion routing patent.

HTH,
Paul