[ossig] MyKad issues and 'licensing' fees?

[Mukhsein Johari <pythonium@yahoo.com>]

> 
> I had the same experience during ACM 2003.  So far,
> what they are saying is, 
> it will work on Linux "server" not desktop. 
> Furthermore, the licensing fee 
> for the whole setup is really prohibitively high in
> my opinion. In other 
> words, this will be something more for big large
> corporation, for small to 
> medium size companies, this is definitely out of
> reach. 
> 

What is this licensing fee? What is the license for,
exactly? I thought the guy Imran emailed said the
specs are in the public domain?

On the server-side, it's actually simpler - you just
need to integrate with the network of Cert.Auth. and
Reg.Auth. servers. Basic PKI stuff. Remember, you too
can be a (albeit unrecognized) CA using OpenSSL.
In Malaysia, the recognized CA is Digicert. AFAIK.

Now, on the client-side, things are much more
comlicated. You need drivers for at least 1 model of
card reader (PS/SC type) and then you need the glue
that communicates between the card's PK app and your
app. (eg. you have an OOo doc and you want to sign it,
you want to sign email with mozilla mail etc.)

What I'm not sure about is the API to get at the cert
on the MyKard, _after_ you have a working driver. Plus
I still need to read up on the detailed mechanics of
the sign-verify process as implemented here. Not sure
when I'll have the time to do that.

***start_rant***
Isn't it bloody time we really go paperless? 
After all, the only thing that absolutely requires
paper these days is that which inherently requires
signatures. eg. loan applications, divorce papers etc.

With government-backed PKI, suddenly there's no real
need for paper anymore since the digitally signed docs
are as legally binding as pen-paper-ly signed docs. NO
MORE "Please download the .doc file, print it out,
fill it and sign it" nonsense that we currently have
today.
***end_rant***

So...back to my question. What is this license for?
where does it fit in?

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com


------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe: send mail to ossig-request@mncc.com.my
with "unsubscribe ossig" in the body of the message