U.S. Restrictions on Exports Aid German Software Maker - The New York Times

German software company's rapid growth stems from United States Government's restrictions on exports of encryption technology; encryption technology is big battleground in evolution of electronic commerce and Internet, but American companies are blocked from exporting advanced encryption programs because American security agencies, including FBI, fear they will lose their ability to monitor communications of suspected terrorists or criminals; this has allowed Brokat Informationssysteme GmbH and handful of other European companies to carve out booming business, selling powerful encyption technology around the world with no competition from American companies; American computer industry has complained about situation and US Government has relaxed some restrictions, but not enough to allow US companies to compete fully with European companies; photo (M)

German software company's rapid growth stems from United States Government's restrictions on exports of encryption technology; encryption technology is big battleground in evolution of electronic commerce and Internet, but American companies are blocked from exporting advanced encryption programs because American security agencies, including FBI, fear they will lose their ability to monitor communications of suspected terrorists or criminals; this has allowed Brokat Informationssysteme GmbH and handful of other European companies to carve out booming business, selling powerful encyption techno