On Wed, 11 Jan 2006 10:29:10 -0600 John Hasler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> hendrik writes: > > Apparently there is now a patent on the FAT file system within the US, > > anyway. Do we have to rip it out of the kernel? > > No (that patent is not new). They can pry my FAT from my cold dead... ohhh, sorry, this isn't slashdot. ;) > > > Do we have to stop distributing the kernel until we've done so? > > No. The kernel probably infringes dozens, perhaps hundreds of patents. > Debian's policy is to ignore patents in the absence of evidence that the > owner is likely to enforce them on us. Unfortunately, my understanding is that M$ intends to enforce this patent. and its not clear to me whether the patent applies to drivers or to the act of writing a FAT system. If it applies to drivers, I think that linux FAT system is a clean-room creation and would probably be okay. If it applies to the act of writing a FAT system (talking outmy FAT *ss here) then nobody can write FAT with out paying their $0.25 I'm sure the anit-monopoly guys will have something to say about this. I think its clearly designed to cut-off linux. Don't upgrade you're kernel until its settled... A > > > Is it time to revive the non-US repository so that at least the rest or > > the world can still transfer files between Linux and Windows? > > Don't forget non-DE as well. > -- > John Hasler > > > -- > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]