Linux Foundation says Its time to ditch Microsofts Fat
According to http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/04/linux-foundation-says-its-time-to-ditch-microsofts-fat.ars
Because Microsoft and TomTom have settled their dispute. Apparently TomTom used the Linux kernel for their GPS, which contains FAT support which is a no-no slap in the face for M$.
TomTom Counter sued M$ based on the fact that they stole some navigation like stuff. TomTom now has paid to license Microsoft’s patents, including those covering FAT, However they are going to weed it out and remove it in the next couple of years.
Although the settlement has ended the conflict between Microsoft and TomTom, questions still remain about the implications for FAT in the broader Linux ecosystem. Microsoft has previously stated that this lawsuit represents an isolated issue and that the company does not intend to broadly sue Linux users. Upstream kernel developers could potentially adopt TomTom’s code changes in order to avoid future patent disputes with Microsoft over FAT.
But being a paranoid people we (linux users) are they are going to try weeding such old and out dated filesystems out of the kernel in the not too distant future.
And what to about every flash card reading device (cameras phones PDAs televisions gameconsoles gps musicplayer) that only accepts fat filesystems? How will we read and wrote files
To use to and from these?
What’s not clear is, if it’s a patent problem surely all implementations are infringing, so reimplementing gains you nothing.
Patents for fat should never be granted. It’s the most basic obvious and simple format possible. I can decide it in my head without any effort. Guess my head owes them patent fees.
Stupid iPhone. I can decode
Not decide
I agree wholeheartedly 🙂