If you want to use smart cards and other devices on Mastercard’s network you’ll have to be licensed by Cryptography Research first…

Cryptography Research, Inc. and MasterCard Worldwide today announced that they have signed an agreement relating to Cryptography Research’s patent portfolio covering countermeasures to Differential Power Analysis (DPA). Under the agreement, MasterCard will require that vendors of smart cards and other cryptographic products that utilize DPA countermeasures be licensed from Cryptography Research in order to be used on MasterCard’s payment networks.

Cryptography Research recently announced licenses with Infineon, Renesas, and NXP for their smart card semiconductor products.

Cryptography Research, Inc. develops and licenses technology to solve complex security problems. In addition to security evaluation and applied engineering work, the company is actively involved in long-term research and technology licensing in areas including content protection, tamper resistance, network security and financial services.

Security systems designed by Cryptography Research engineers protect more than $100 billion of commerce annually for wireless, telecommunications, financial, digital television, entertainment, and Internet industries. www.cryptography.com.