[ros-general] Microsoft wants royalties for use of FAT

[Hey Matthew]

As far as i can tell, the patents don't stop the use of the FAT 
file system layout or structures, they only relate to the creation
of long file names. Therefore we can still use FAT and even 'read'
long file names, but just not generate them without infingement.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vizzini [mailto:vizzini at plasmic.com]
Sent: Friday, 5 December 2003 11:54 a.m.
To: ros-general at reactos.com
Subject: Re: [ros-general] Microsoft wants royalties for use of FAT


On Thu, 2003-12-04 at 16:03, Casper Hornstrup wrote:
> http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/tech/fat.asp

sigh...

Looks pretty bad, actually.  We're going to have to think about this. 
This patent really can't be licensed for use with a GPL'd operating
system unless the fundamental terms are changed.  

CDs and DVDs would still be usable, and floppy disks might be if we
don't implement any patented things (FAT existed in 1985, and all those
patents are expired now).  

Things could get really sticky with digital cameras, mp3 players, etc...

I'd be curious to see how RMS would respond to this.  Steven, would you
care to run this by him?

Also, I fear that this is just the tip of the iceberg.  MS also has a
royalty deal on the website for ClearType, and I guarantee they have
thousands of patents that cover all of the obvious things.  I guess
we'll just have to deal with them as they come up.

A quick US patent database search shows 2,884 patents assigned to MS
since 1976.  On further review, it appears that every single one has
issued since 1986, meaning that every one of them is valid and
enforcable.

Joy.

 -Vizzini


_______________________________________________
ros-general mailing list
ros-general at reactos.com
http://reactos.com/mailman/listinfo/ros-general

This communication is confidential and may contain privileged material.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, copy or retain it.
If you have received it in error please immediately notify me by return email
and delete the emails.
Thank you.