One thing that i find interesting about this is that if, indeed, the patents
only apply to using multiple directory entries on an "8.3" file system to
simulate long names (as appears to be the case), digital cameras don't fall
under the patent. the dcf specifcation (http://www.exif.org/dcf.PDF)
explicitly lays out that files are to conform to an 8.3 naming scheme, and
as a consequence, devices that write to the file system aren't claimed in
the patent.
what's even more interesting is that 5579517 explicitly refers to cases
where the length of the long file name is longer than the maximum length
allowed by the *operating system* as opposed to the *file system*.
while the manufacturers of digital media may not have the financial
wherewithall to stand up to the patent, i'm sure there are quite a few
camera makers that do.
jdm
John Hasler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> 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.
As already suggested, MS tries to generate revenue by licensing the FAT
patents to hardware producers which deliver disks with FAT on it. But I
don't know whether the patents could also be used against software
authors.
If it applies to drivers, I think that linux FAT system is a
clean-room creation and would probably be okay.
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