MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-12-06 |
| FROM | David Sugar
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [hangout] part3 Re: [DMCA_Discuss] Microsoft to start charging for FAT format
|
I think they would like to launch a test patent complaint against the linux
kernel at this time, especially a small or largely irrelevant one like this,
because the fud value, especially in regard to further supporting SCO would
be useful to them. The description and terms of licensing also suggest this.
On Saturday 06 December 2003 07:49 am, Mike Richardson - NYLXS PRESIDENT
wrote:
> On Sat, 6 Dec 2003, Andy Green wrote:
> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> > Hash: SHA1
> >
> > On Friday 05 December 2003 06:03, Jon O. wrote:
> > > Phil: Surely flash memory manufacturers can get around this by simply
> > > not pre-formatting cards?
> >
> > Maybe, but the camera people will have to be able to format the cards
> > with a filesystem. Its possible that the camera people could require the
> > user to format their cards on their PC, this would be an inconvenience to
> > the user caused solely by trying to avoid this IP tax.
> >
> > > Today, the FAT File system has become the ubiquitous format used for
> > > interchange of media between computers, and, since the advent of
> >
> > In fact FAT is only common because of the Microsoft Windows OS monopoly -
> > your storage devices needs to talk FAT if it is to readily interoperate
> > with all versions of Windows. This licensing shakedown is just another
> > way for MSFT to charge at the turnstiles for using Windows.
> >
> > > Microsoft offers a commercially reasonable, nonexclusive license so
> > > that other companies can use the FAT file system in their own products.
> >
> > Linux includes FAT support, including the ability to format devices to
> > FAT. (This is not Linux's preferred format though, which is called ext2
> > and ext3). I don't know whether the licenses not addressing that shows
> > MSFT are not wanting to attack Linux, or leaving the door open for a
> > patent-based attack - possibly a broadside of all the stupid stuff the
> > USPO has let them get away with :-(
> >
> > - -Andy
> > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> > Version: GnuPG v1.2.2 (GNU/Linux)
> >
> > iD8DBQE/0X9qjKeDCxMJCTIRAlBlAKCF7mVEE3LeI9XwpCTJTqo//uj53wCgldCF
> > mwdqJg+XVIv8NyVPV6Qtvd0=
> > =rpdy
> > -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> > ------------------------
> > http://www.anti-dmca.org
> > ------------------------
> >
> > DMCA_Discuss mailing list
> > DMCA_Discuss-at-lists.microshaft.org
> > http://lists.microshaft.org/mailman/listinfo/dmca_discuss
>
> ____________________________
> NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
> Fair Use -
> because it's either fair use or useless....
> NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
____________________________
NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
|
|
