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ARTICLE · 11 MARCH 2005

Deconstructing Encryption: Department of Commerce Revises Encryption Regulations

The export of encryption products, software, and technology has long been one of the most opaque sectors of export controls. While U.S. origin encryption is tightly controlled, exporters can avail themselves of numerous exceptions depending on such factors as the overall strength of the encryption, the type of entity involved (government versus non-government), and the location of the end-user. Over the past few years, the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS") generally

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The export of encryption products, software, and technology has long been one of the most opaque sectors of export controls. While U.S. origin encryption is tightly controlled, exporters can avail themselves of numerous exceptions depending on such factors as the overall strength of the encryption, the type of entity involved (government versus non-government), and the location of the end-user. Over the past few years, the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security ("BIS") generally has sought to simplify these regulations and ease the export restrictions on encryption. Its most recent attempt occurred on December 9, 2004, when BIS issued a final rule (the "Rule") further revising the encryption regulations. As discussed below, while some of the changes were more cosmetic in nature, BIS introduced certain substantive changes as well:

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