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From: rwh@aesat.UUCP (Russ Herman)
Newsgroups: sci.crypt,net.sources.d,misc.legal
Subject: Re: There are basically no export controls on public domain information.
Message-ID: 
Date: Wed, 22-Oct-86 11:23:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: aesat.656
Posted: Wed Oct 22 11:23:39 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Oct-86 12:31:27 EDT
References: 
Organization: AES Data Inc., Mississauga, Ont., CANADA L5N 3C9
Lines: 31

> Xref: watmath sci.crypt:11 net.sources.d:589 misc.legal:49
> In such a situation, is it up to me to prove that the disk I'm carrying
> DOESN'T carry "controlled" information?  Considering that lots of data must
> cross the Atlantic in many forms I can't imagine that Customs could demand
> to know the contents of every disk, tape or telephone call, for that matter.

Let me add the point of view of a Canada Customs agent I encountered some years
ago. I was bringing a 2400' reel of mag tape BACK to Canada. I had used it to
transport a program to the U.S. When I got to customs, the agent there
dutied me on the value of the tape. Now, technically he was correct, because
there was no proof that I had in fact exported the tape. But in order to
avoid this in the future, I attempted to find a way around this. The
following conversation ensued.

CC: We're dutying you on the value of the tape. We'd like to duty you on the
    value of the information, but we don't know that.
Me: The tape has a serial # punched into the leader. If I register the tape
    before leaving the country, can I then bring it back duty-free?
CC: No. It would have to be the same tape and the same information. The
    burden of proof is on you.
Me (getting exasperated):
    Well, suppose I just transmit the data by telephone.
CC (with  a grin):
    When we figure out a way to duty that, we will.
-- 
  ______			Russ Herman
 /      \			{allegra,ihnp4,pyramid,decvax}!utzoo!aesat!rwh
@( ?  ? )@			
 (  ||  )			The opinions above are strictly personal, and 
 ( \__/ )			do not reflect those of my employer (or even
  \____/			possibly myself an hour from now.)