On Thu, 17 Feb 2005, Colin wrote:
> Szakacsits Szabolcs wrote:
>
> >There are some myths about Linux NTFS support (like it's experimental,
> >corrupts data, etc) even if they aren't true for about 3-4 years. The fact
> >is read is fully usable and write isn't fully implemented yet. This means
> >that the write code either isn't written yet, disabled or works fine.
> >
> >The complexity of NTFS is comparable to XFS or Reiser4 what is worked on
> >about 8+ developers full time, paid. The Linux NTFS kernel driver
> >currently is developed by one guy voluntarily, in his spare time.
> >
> >Also note that there are two completely different kernel drivers and the
> >write support was disabled long ago for the original, NT4 NTFS driver that
> >indeed corrupted a lot of Windows 2000 partitions because, among others,
> >the driver didn't check the NTFS version for backard compatibility.
> >
> >
> I always thought that Microsoft had a copyright on NTFS, which is why
> non-Windows OSes like Linux and Mac OS X can't have write access without
> paying royalties if Microsoft accepts. I'm probably wrong, but that's
> what I've heard.
Yes, this is one of the other major myths. However mostly it's being
refered as being patented, not copyrighted.
Copyright protects the authors of the original works of the authorships.
The Linux NTFS code is copyrighted by its developers, the Linux kernel
developers. Microsoft has nothing to do with this, they have their own
copyright on their own NTFS drivers they developed themself.
On the other hand, a patent may protect inventions if there is no prior
art and meets many other regulations. However NTFS isn't patented in any
country.
Szaka
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