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

[Mark IJbema]

On Fri, Dec 05, 2003 at 08:57:07AM -0600, Rick Parrish wrote:
> I'd like to follow Andrew's "crazy ideas" with one of my own.
> 
> How about structuring a defensive IP policy?
> 
> I'll use a file system as my example but this applies to just about 
> anything unique or novel in the React OS implementation. Suppose someone 
> comes up with a new improved file system design ... makes it available 
> under GPL like terms but also backs it up with a patent. Suppose that 
> this new file system becomes very popular. Users, over concerns of their 
> data being held captive by a proprietary media format, switch to this 
> new FS. Microsoft, following a long history of embrace and extend (the 
> kiss of death), decides to incorporate this FS as an "innovative 
> feature" in a future
> OS release. However, the patent-backed licensing terms include a 
> "gotcha" clause that requires any commercial entity to share patent 
> portfolios (sounds fair doesn't it?) ...

Sounds fair, but is not compatible with the GPL afaik. Which doesn't
have to be a problem, i don't see why we need to use the GPL for
everything anyway (for example, i wouldn't care less if we includeded a
notepad which was released under the BSD licence).

Mark